Our aim is to provide our pupils with a rich range of experiences within the Art curriculum, making many cross-curricular links. The children have the opportunity to discover artists and crafts from around the world, across Historical time periods and cultures. We believe it to be very important to foster a love and curiosity about Art and for the children to develop their own artistic identity through lessons that engage, challenge and inspire them. We aim to support our pupils to develop a ‘growth mindset’ in their attitude towards their abilities as an artist particularly in respect of fine art skills such as drawing and painting.

IMPLEMENTATION

Art is planned and taught as a discrete subject across Years 3 -6. Each year group has one unit of work per term and these are typically taught in afternoon sessions by the class teacher. Units are planned with a key art focus and are often strongly linked to another area of the curriculum of that year group to enable children to make links between their learning. The planning includes explicit teaching and development of key art skills and techniques for example drawing, painting and sculpture. Skills are developed over a sequence of lessons culminating in a final piece of artwork. Critical analysis of their own and the art of others is another key focus area to all planning.

The sense of themselves as artists is bolstered through giving autonomy over the composing of their final artworks. This is created by planning for open-ended outcomes where children can utilise the skills developed during a unit and exercise their own sense of control and ownership over their work.

Every child is taught how to use a sketchbook, which they keep all the way through the school. The sketchbooks are owned by the pupils, and are at the centre of the pupils’ creativity. Sketchbooks can be used to gather, collect, experiment and reflect.  They are used as a tool and safe space to gather their thoughts and rehearse their technique. Final pieces of art are photographed and added to their sketchbooks as a celebration of their work.

Skills and techniques that are taught in the lower school are revisited and developed in the upper school and children are encouraged to use their sketchbooks as a journal of their learning and a way to chart their own progression.

IMPACT

Our children will be creative and critical thinkers who show an appreciation of a wide range of artistic styles, movements and craft techniques. Our children will have a strong ‘growth mindset’ and ‘can do’ attitude towards fine art skills such as drawing and painting. They will enjoy having freedom to show the skills they have developed and express their creativity through artworks of their own design.