Emscote Infant School
and
All Saints' C of E Junior School
Art
Curriculum Statement – Art
Intent
‘Every child can be an artist’
“Art is not just a subject to learn, but an activity that you can practise with your hands, your eyes, your whole personality.” Quentin Blake
At All Saints’, we value art as an important part of pupils’ entitlement to a broad and balanced curriculum and it is our intent to offer high-quality art lessons that inspire and challenge. Our principal aim is to ensure that children flourish individually and develop the skills and knowledge to enable them to create their own works of art that express their individual ideas, interests and thoughts. We encourage children to communicate what they see, feel and think through the use of colour, texture, form and pattern using different materials and processes. To develop their knowledge, children will be introduced to a range of works from famous artists and will be exposed to the different styles the artists use. Through a Creative Curriculum, art at All Saints’ enables children to develop knowledge and skills that are transferable to other curriculum areas and which can be used to promote their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. Pupils will learn about the role of art, exploring the impact it has had on contemporary life as well as on different periods and cultures. Using a range of media and materials, pupils will learn the skills of drawing, painting, printing, collage, textiles, sculpting and digital art; giving children the opportunity to explore, assess and evaluate a wide variety of creative ideas. Pupils are expected to reflect, critique and evaluate their work, thinking about how they can make changes in order to continuously improve. Pupils are encouraged to experiment creatively, be resourceful and take risks, then reflect on how successful their ideas and techniques are for a particular project. Through art, we seek to inspire in children a curiosity and fascination about art around the world which will remain with them for the rest of their lives and also promote an understanding of diversity through their art lessons.
Aims of our Art curriculum:
- To be able to produce creative work, exploring their ideas and recording their experiences across the curriculum.
- To be able to improve personal skills in drawing, painting, sculpture and other art, craft and design techniques.
- Art should be used as a platform to enable all of our children to communicate what they see, feel and think. As part of the curriculum at All Saints’, they are given the opportunity regularly to experiment with their ideas, their use of colour, texture, form, pattern and different materials and processes.
- To be able evaluate and analyse creative works using the language of art, craft and design.
- To be able to investigate about great artists, craft makers and designers, and understand the historical and cultural development of their art forms.
Implementation
At All Saints’, art is taught in designated art lessons, as well as being linked to other opportunities across the curriculum including core subjects as well as during foundation sessions. It gives the children opportunities to bring their learning to life and be creative throughout their day.
Sketchbooks are issued to each child when they begin their education with us and they are carried with them throughout their time at All Saints’. We have found this a great way to show progressions of skills and the children are able to reflect on their learning throughout their time with us.
Teachers have identified the key knowledge and skills for each art topic and consideration has been given to ensure progression across topics so that children can achieve a deep understanding of art as they journey through the school. At the beginning of each topic, children are able to convey and demonstrate the skills they already have and identify how they can build upon, master and extend these prior skills. This ensures that lessons take account of each child’s individual starting points. Pupils of all abilities are given the opportunity to reach their full potential. Teachers also take into consideration the provision for how greater depth will be taught to ensure pupils are provided with suitable challenge. At All Saints’, we ensure that the act of investigating and creating includes exploring and developing ideas, as well as evaluating work. We do this through a mixture of whole-class teaching and individual or group activities. We give children the opportunity to work by themselves and in collaboration with others. The intended learning outcomes are clear and the pupils have a means to measure their work against this. Outcomes are recorded in sketch books and displayed in classrooms and around school. Children also have the opportunity to use a wide range of materials and resources, including ICT (Information, Communication and Technology). Opportunities for children’s learning is further enhanced with planned whole school art weeks throughout the year including the Spirited Arts competition, where the children explore the different styles and techniques to represent their own individual ideas and inspirations.
Impact
Our art curriculum is high quality and evidenced throughout the school environment demonstrating children’s acquisition of key knowledge, skills and techniques. As they advance through the school, pupils develop a deep knowledge, understanding and appreciation of art and the work of great artists. They increase their confidence in using a range of materials, tools and art mediums. Pupils are keen to learn new skills, work hard and perfect their repertoire of skills to be the best that they can be. Children gain an appreciation of how art can help them to express themselves and learn the importance of how the arts can help them to control their emotions. Children are able to apply their art skills to cross-curricular subjects. They use art to develop a sense of the diverse world in which they live and understand how cultures can be connected through art.
