At St Aelred’s Catholic Primary School, we believe that 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.
Intent
At St Aelred’s, we aim for our art curriculum to engage, inspire and challenge our pupils. Through high quality art and design lessons, our pupils will learn the specific knowledge and skills in order for them to experiment, invent and create their own works of art and designs. We want our pupils to find enjoyment in art and creativity, as well as develop an appreciation for the work of a range of artists. We want pupils to confidently and skillfully use a range of techniques and materials. We want pupils to have opportunities to develop their observation and description skills. Our Art and Design curriculum is built around the principles of evidence-led practice. This is to ensure that pupils are equipped to successfully think, work and communicate like an artist. It is unapologetically ambitious. Our curriculum focuses on excellence in this subject and references outstanding and diverse artists in this field.
Implementation
Art and Design is taught across each year group in modules that enable pupils to develop in creativity, independence, judgment and self-reflection. Each module aims to activate and build upon prior learning, including EYFS, to ensure better cognition and retention.
Our curriculum allows children to create artwork through the use of formal elements. There is focus on the influence and exploration of great artists to inspire our pupils’ own artwork. Pupils are able to express their opinions of artwork with sophisticated use of language. By creating original artwork of their own, documenting their artwork in their sketchbooks and exploring other sources of inspiration for their own artwork, pupils generate their own ideas of Art and Design.
Our curriculum is organised into blocks with each block covering a particular set of artistic disciplines, including
drawing, painting, printmaking, textiles, 3D and collage. Vertical progression in each discipline has been deliberately woven into the fabric of the curriculum so that pupils can revisit key disciplines throughout their Primary journey at increasing degrees of challenge and complexity. Central to the art and design learning blocks are activities designed to develop pupils’ oracy and vocabulary skills to enable them to use artistic language meaningfully when talking about their work and the work of others.
Accompanying each block is a Knowledge Note which contains key vocabulary, information and concepts which all pupils all pupils are expected to understand and retain. Knowledge notes are the elaboration and detail to help pupils acquire the content of each module. They support vocabulary and concept acquisition through a well-structured sequence that is cumulative. Each Knowledge Note contains key vocabulary and key facts for the module.
Early Years
During the Early Years Foundation Stage, the essential building blocks of children’s Art capability are established. Children are encouraged and guided to explore, use and refine a variety of artistic effects to express their ideas and feelings. They are encouraged to develop their motor skills so that they can use a range of tools, materials and techniques competently, safely and confidently. By the end of EYFS, most children are able to: use a range of materials creatively to design and make a product; to use drawing, painting and sculpture to develop and share their ideas, experience and imagination; to develop a wide range of art and design techniques in using colour, pattern, texture, lines, shape, form and space. The most relevant early years outcomes for Art are taken from the following areas of learning: Physical Development Understanding the World Expressive Arts and Design.
Impact
It is the responsibility of the Art subject leader to ensure the implementation of this curriculum, monitor standards, offer advice and support to staff, provide a model and promote excellence in children’s achievements. Senior Leaders regularly undertake Pupil Book Studies and book monitoring to evaluate the effectiveness of teaching and learning. This includes sessions with small groups of pupils using questioning to check and ensure information and knowledge is acquired and understood with increasing confidence. Feedback is given to teaching staff to inform future planning. Pupils also have regular opportunities to self-evaluate and peer-evaluate work. Subject leaders also regularly undertake pupil questionnaires to better understand the attitudes and views towards Art. This, in turn, will help teachers adapt planning and delivery to improve engagement and foster an enjoyment of the subject.
