St Andrew's C of E Primary School

Art

Intent

The Art curriculum at St. Andrew’s will enable children to think critically and express themselves creatively. The Art curriculum centres around 5 principles:

  •  Making
  • Generating ideas
  • Formal elements
  • Knowledge of artists
  • Evaluating work

These 5 principles will develop children’s art and design skills by exploring different media and developing their skills through painting, drawing, printing and 2D and 3D work including learning about the formal elements of art such as colour, pattern, form, texture and tone, etc. They will take inspiration from exploring the work of a diverse range of artists and craftspeople and children will develop an understanding of different cultural heritages. This in turn will broaden their knowledge of artists and their techniques and foster their appreciation of art throughout the world and history. Children will be encouraged to take risks and experiment with the creative process and, through reflecting on ideas and evaluating their own and the work of others, they will further develop their understanding and critical abilities.

 

Implementation

The teaching and implementation of the Art and Design Curriculum at St. Andrew’s is based on the National Curriculum, ensuring a clear, comprehensive and well-structured approach to this creative subject.

 The children are taught Art in discrete lessons that build on previous learning. Areas covered include sculpture and mixed media (including the work of Renata Bernal and Mark Wallinger), collage, printing, clay work, recreating artists’ styles (including contemporary concepts such as photomontage), exploring art with a story (such as Banksy’s Clacton Pigeon Mural and ‘Guernica’ by Picasso), painting, graffiti and the works of the Impressionist artists.  Displaying children’s artwork throughout the school ensures that we celebrate Art at St. Andrew’s.

Children in Key Stage 2 have a sketchbook, which follows them through their artistic journey at St. Andrew’s to allow them to revisit work and ideas and to practise and hone their art and design skills. It also serves to document their progression in Key Stage 2.

 Early Years Foundation Stage

Pupils explore and use a variety of media and materials through a combination of child initiated and adult directed activities. By the end of EYFS children should:

  • Explore, use and refine a variety of artistic effects to express their ideas and feelings.
  • Experiment with colour, design, texture, form and function
  • Return to and build on their previous learning, refining ideas and developing their ability to represent them.
  • Create collaboratively, sharing ideas, resources and skills.*

 *Taken from the Development Matters for Creating with Materials and Being Imaginative and Expressive.

To achieve the ELG in for Creating with Materials and Being Imaginative and Expressive children have opportunities to:

  • To explore colours, shapes, texture and smells in their own words including developing colour-mixing techniques to enable them to match the colours they see and want to represent.
  • To work together to develop and realise creative ideas.
  • Explore and use a range of materials for children to construct with.
  • To think about and discuss what they want to make including how they might solve problems as they arise.
  • Explore different techniques for joining materials and use tools with care and precision.
  • Be independent 

 Key Stage 1

Pupils are taught:

  • To use a range of materials creatively to design and make products
  • To use drawing, painting and sculpture to develop and share their ideas, experiences and imagination
  • To develop a wide range of art and design techniques in using colour, pattern, texture, line, shape, form and space
  • To find out about the work of a range of artists, craft makers and designers, describing the differences and similarities between different practices and disciplines, and making links to their own work.

Key Stage 2

 Pupils are taught:

  • To develop their techniques, including their control and their use of materials, with creativity, experimentation and an increasing awareness of different kinds of art, craft and design.
  • To create sketchbooks to record their observations and use them to review and revisit ideas
  • To improve their mastery of art and design techniques, including drawing, painting and sculpture with a range of materials
  • To find out about great artists, architects and designers in history.

 

Impact

The impact is evident in the quality and breadth of work the children produce, the learning environment and the children’s appreciation and enjoyment of art.

 St. Andrew’s Art curriculum is focused on teaching a progression of knowledge and skills. Children are clear about their learning and have the vocabulary and skills to analyse their work and ideas.

 The impact of our art curriculum is measured through teacher assessment at the end of each unit, and again at the end of the school year. Teachers use the assessment to inform future lessons, ensuring that children are supported and challenged appropriately. In addition to this, pupil voice is undertaken to highlight strengths and achievement and identify any improvements, skills or knowledge that need to be focused on.

 Children in the Foundation Stage are assessed within Expressive Arts and Design throughout the year and through individual Learning Journeys. Progress against the Early Learning Goals is assessed at the end of the year and reported to parents at the end of the Reception year.

Art and Design Technology Unit Overview