Our Art and Design Co-ordinator is Mr McCarthy

Ralph Waldo Emerson. “Every artist was first an amateur”

Henri Matisse. “Creativity takes courage”

Pablo Picasso. “Every child is an artist. ..

Purpose of study

Art, craft and design embody some of the highest forms of human creativity. A high-quality art and design education should engage, inspire and challenge pupils, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to experiment invent and create their own works of art, craft and design. As pupils progress, they should be able to think critically and develop a more rigorous understanding of art and design. They should also know how art and design both reflect and shape our history, and contribute to the culture, creativity and wealth of our nation.

Aims

The national curriculum for art and design aims to ensure that all pupils:

•  produce creative work, exploring their ideas and recording their experiences
• become proficient in drawing, painting, sculpture and other art, craft and design techniques
• evaluate and analyse creative works using the language of art, craft and design
• Know about great artists, craft makers and designers, and understand the historical and cultural development of their art forms

Intent

The art, craft and design curriculum aims to engage, inspire and challenge pupils, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to experiment, invent and create their own works of art, craft and design. As pupils progress, they will be able to think critically and develop a more in-depth understanding of art and design. The curriculum builds skills and knowledge over time but is designed to enable pupils know how art and design reflects our history, and contributes to the culture, creativity and wealth of our nation. The intent is for pupils to produce creative work, exploring their ideas and recording their experiences; become proficient in drawing, painting, sculpture and other art, craft and design techniques; evaluate and analyse creative works using the language of art, craft and design and to know about great artists, craft makers and designers, and understand the historical and cultural development of their art forms. A key intent of our curriculum is to have a range of artists reflecting modern British society i.e. different genders, ages, sexualities, gender identities, races, religion and beliefs and disabilities.

Curriculum Implementation

The children are taught Art as part of their termly topic work.  Areas covered include sculpture (including the work of Sir Henry Moore and Giacometti), mosaics, printing based on topic work, such as the Tudor houses, nature, Mexican art, Christian art and symbols, painting, pointillism, graffiti and the works of the Impressionist artists.  More detail can be found in our Long Term plans.

The work of famous local, national and international artists are explored to enhance the children's learning. 

The children's learning is further enhanced with a whole school arts week in the summer term where the children have the opportunity for collaborative working and exploring the different styles and techniques of a range of artists.

Early Years Foundation Stage

Pupils explore and use a variety of media and materials through a combination of child initiated and adult directed activities. They have opportunities to learn to:

• Explore the textures, movement, feel and look of different media and materials
• Respond to a range of media and materials, develop their understanding of them in order to manipulate and create different effects.
• Use different media and materials to express their own ideas
• Explore colour and use for a particular purpose
• Develop skills to use simple tools and techniques competently and appropriately
• Select appropriate media and techniques and adapt their work where necessary

Key stage 1

Pupils are taught:

•  to use a range of materials creatively to design and make products
•  to use drawing, painting and sculpture to develop and share their ideas, experiences and imagination
•  to develop a wide range of art and design techniques in using colour, pattern, texture, line, shape, form and space
•  about the work of a range of artists, craft makers and designers, describing the differences and similarities between different practices and disciplines, and making links to their own work.    

Key stage 2

Pupils are taught to develop their techniques, including their control and their use of materials, with creativity, experimentation and an increasing awareness of different kinds of art, craft and design.

Pupils are taught:

•  to create sketch books to record their observations and use them to review and revisit ideas to improve their mastery of art and design techniques, including drawing, painting and sculpture with a range of materials [for example, pencil, charcoal, paint, clay] about great artists, architects and designers in history.

Curriculum Impact

Summative assessments take place throughout the year and teachers record the progress and attainment against the National Curriculum expectations of attainment. Teachers use this information to inform future lessons; ensuring children are supported and challenged appropriately. This data is analysed on a termly basis to inform and address any trends or gaps in attainment.

Further information is gathered through pupil questionnaires; highlighting strengths and achievement and any improvements, knowledge and skills that still need to be embedded.

Final end of year assessments are made using assessment criteria that has been developed in line with the national curriculum and Target Tracker. Thus identifying the level in which the child is working.

Children in Foundation Stage are assessed within Expressive Arts and Design and their progress is tracked termly using the tracker system. Age related expectation levels are reported to parents at the end of the reception year.