Art and Design
Our Art and Design curriculum is carefully crafted to nurture curiosity, inspire questioning, and ignite a passion for learning about the diverse world we live in. We have selected KAPOW for both KS1 and KS2 as it provides a structured progression of skills while offering a broad, balanced, and engaging curriculum for our children.
We want our children to learn about prominent male and female artists and designers from various cultural and historical backgrounds. We encourage them to explore what makes a piece of art "great," questioning and analysing different perspectives. In addition to studying well-known figures, our curriculum celebrates local talent and introduces students to contemporary and lesser-known artists and craftspeople. We believe that this rich approach will enhance our children’s lives, both in school and beyond.
Art and Design play a crucial role in supporting learning across the curriculum. The skills developed in these subjects are transferable, helping to promote and deepen learning in a variety of areas. This holistic approach ensures our children are well-prepared for a future filled with opportunities.
In the early years, Art and Design are taught through a blend of child-initiated exploration, adult-directed learning, and open-ended play. Children are encouraged to express their ideas, thoughts, and feelings through creative activities, with teachers providing both focused and independent art tasks. These activities allow children to explore their imaginations and develop their creativity through play.
In KS1 and KS2, teachers follow the KAPOW scheme, ensuring that lessons cover the skills and knowledge outlined in the National Curriculum. Whenever possible, teachers are encouraged to make connections with other subjects, allowing children to transfer and apply their art skills across the curriculum. Sketchbooks are used as spaces for exploration and practice, with teachers guiding children to evaluate and refine their work. These sketchbooks, along with classroom displays and photographs, will serve as evidence of learning and progress.
We aim to embed Art and Design throughout our whole school curriculum, seizing every opportunity to enhance learning through creative expression. Children will also use reading and writing as tools to present their art knowledge, applying their skills in other subjects. Teachers will ensure the use of specific art vocabulary, as identified in the knowledge organisers and progression documents, and will plan lessons that introduce students to both well-known and less well-known artists and designers who inspire them.
Throughout the year, we will enrich the curriculum with themed days, allowing for imaginative lessons around exciting topics. Teachers will also plan educational visits and experiences outside the classroom to broaden our children’s knowledge of art, artists, and designers, inspiring and engaging them further in their learning.
Our vision for Art and Design includes:
- A school where Art and Design are celebrated by teachers and students alike.
- Children confidently using technical art vocabulary and demonstrating a clear understanding of the skills and processes they’ve learned.
- Students becoming skilled art critics, able to evaluate their own work and engage in meaningful discussions about the art of others.
- The transfer of art and design skills across the curriculum.
- Building resilience in children as they continually evaluate and improve their artwork.
Pupil voice will reflect that:
- 100% of pupils enjoy and remember their art lessons.
- 100% of pupils can confidently talk about an artist or piece of artwork and express their opinion on it.
Impact will be measured by:
- Monitoring of sketchbooks and artwork showing that 100% of outcomes are of good quality or better.
- At least 50% of sketchbooks and artwork demonstrating outstanding progress, with evidence that children are engaged and retaining knowledge in line with curriculum intent.
- Regular monitoring ensuring that the theory and intent of the curriculum are being implemented as planned.
- Pupil voice, book reviews, displays, and photographs showcasing children’s progression and retention of art skills throughout the year.
- Sketchbooks showing evidence of specific art vocabulary being taught, applied, and remembered.
- Sketchbooks demonstrating that children are evaluating both their own artwork and that of others.
- Termly reporting of class data to the subject leader.
End-of-phase expectations:
- By the end of EYFS, at least 75% of students will achieve the art objectives.
- By the end of KS1, at least 65% of students will meet age-related expectations, with 10% exceeding them.
- By the end of Year 3 and 4, at least 70% of students will meet age-related expectations, with 15% exceeding them.
- By the end of Year 5 and 6, at least 75% of students will meet age-related expectations, with 15% exceeding them.