Our vision for art and design:

Learning within art and design stimulates creativity and imagination. It provides visual, tactile and sensory experiences and a special way of understanding and responding to the world. A high-quality art and design education should inspire, engage and challenge children - enabling pupils to communicate what they see, feel and think through the use of colour, texture, form and pattern. Children will become involved in shaping their environment through art and design activities, involving different creative techniques.

We encourage children to express themselves and to interpret and appreciate the works of other artists. They will explore ideas and meaning through the work of artists and designers. Additionally, as they learn about the history, roles and functions of art, they can explore the impact that it has on contemporary life and that of different times and cultures.

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

1. Produce creative work, exploring their ideas and recording their experiences

2. Become proficient in drawing, painting, sculpture and other art, craft and design techniques

3. Evaluate and analyse creative works using the language of art, craft and design

4. Know about great artists, craft makers and designers, and understand the historical and cultural development of their art forms

Our approach to art and design:

Our art and design curriculum is designed with five strands that run throughout all areas of learning.  These strands are:

  • Generating ideas
  • Using sketchbooks
  • Makings skills, including formal elements (line, shape, tone, texture, pattern, colour)
  • Knowledge of artists
  • Evaluating and analysing

Children build upon their skills and knowledge year on year, but also within each year and apply them in a range of outcomes. The formal elements are woven throughout units and key skills are revisited continuously with increasing complexity. This allows pupils to revisit, revise and build on previous learning and master their skills. 

Our art and design curriculum ensures that creativity and independent outcomes are embedded into our lessons, supporting children in learning how to make their own creative choices and decisions, so that their art and design outcomes are unique and individual to each child.  Children are encouraged to develop their interest and curiosity about art and design through the opportunity to ask questions and discuss different works of art.  Our art and design lessons encourage experimental and exploratory learning and pupils in both Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 use sketchbooks to document their research, ideas and record their observations. Children will work with various media, e.g. paint, clay, wood, in order to develop their skills and aesthetic appreciation.

Our art and design curriculum:

The National Curriculum Art and design Programmes of study for key stages 1 and 2 can be found HERE