Art & DT

Art and Design Curriculum

Intent

Our curriculum ensures that pupils:
• Become creative and reflective learners who are able to express themselves fluently and
confidently using a variety of different media.
• Develop knowledge about great artists, architects and designers of the present day and in history.
• Are inspired to develop their cultural understanding in a range of contexts.

At St Mary’s, we encourage children to use their courage and resilience when completing Art and Design projects leading to perseverance and personal pride in their work. Our ‘We are Artists’ curriculum promotes a love of learning about the creative world around us. The curriculum is designed to ensure that children acquire both key art and design knowledge and skills through classroom experiences and using a range of sources (such as paintings and sculptures). Cross-curricular opportunities are also identified, mapped and planned to ensure contextual relevance and progression. Children are encouraged to explore and celebrate their wider world through researching the experiences of others. A love of art and design is nurtured through a whole school ethos and a varied art curriculum, leading to every child viewing themselves as a successful ‘Artist and Designer’ and nurturing an excitement to improve.

Implementation

Teachers create purposeful and meaningful learning opportunities within their classrooms which
promote a love for learning. Our whole school approach to the teaching and learning of art and design involves the following:
• Art and Design is recorded in sketch books, in which they can record ideas, practise new
techniques and to further refine their skills. These sketchbooks give our artists the opportunity to study an existing piece of art, create a constructive and reflective critique of this work and to use these ideas to develop their own piece of related art work, enabling pupils to show perseverance and dedication to complete any project to the best of their ability.
• Cross curricular outcomes in art and design are specifically planned for, to provide a variety
of inspiration for our artists.
• Artists from different eras are studied throughout the school to give our artists a balanced knowledge and understanding of Art and Design concepts and skills. School visitors and trips are facilitated where appropriate to enhance the pupils’ understanding and skills further.
• They are also provided with opportunities for using a range of sources, including pictures, models and photographs. Teachers demonstrate how to use such sources, to ensure children fully understand how to apply these to their own independent work.
• Where appropriate, Art and Design projects may also be linked to a community or cultural issue to engage our artists in the world around them and to help them understand the role that they play as an individual (for example, when creating items to sell at the Christmas and Summer fair to raise money for class nominated charities.
• At the end of each topic, classes produce a collaborative ‘Show What We Know’ art gallery.
Parents and carers are invited to view this (either by coming into school or through our
Virtual Gallery on the website).

Impact

Children have the opportunity to practice skills relating to the national curriculum. Key Art and Design skills are supported through fun and carefully planned activities. Our engagement with the outside also ensures that children learn through varied and first hand experiences both in and out of the classroom. Through our Art and Design work children learn about a range of artists, architects and designers from history, whilst also learning to appreciate the diverse creative world we live in. Children also learn about careers related to Art and Design
from members of the local and wider community, helping prepare them for the next steps in their education. Our topics allow them to see all of the world as accessible and creative.
This engagement and appreciation of links within our global community help our pupils to personally raise their aspirations as a result of their sound Art and Design knowledge and understanding.