Art and Design

“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 Milton St Johns Primary School our intention is to provide an Art and Design Curriculum which offers our children the opportunity to develop their understanding and use of a variety of media and processes in order to record, communicate and express their own ideas in many different ways. We want our children to develop as critical and creative thinkers and enrich, extend and consolidate learning in a variety of contexts. Through systematic and progressive planning, we intend to encourage the children to express, explore and celebrate ideas, feelings, attitudes and values. We aim to foster originality and creativity using Art as a means of communication. Innovation and sensitivity to personal feelings and attitudes will permeate the school environment to embrace each child's spiritual, moral, social and academic abilities so that they all have the opportunity to SHINE in the love of God.

Our curriculum drivers underpin all we do and are an essential part of our learning. The drivers help our children to ‘RISE’ up and play a vital role in their community; locally, nationally and globally. They are listed below:

• Respect for the opinions and beliefs of others
• Independence & Resilience
• Spirituality
• Engagement & Curiosity 

Intent

At our school we intend that children should master Art and Design to such an extent that they can go on to have careers within Art and Design and make use of art effectively in their everyday lives. It furthermore enables our children to explore their imagination, generate ideas, acquire skills, apply judgements and rejoice in their learning. To offer opportunities to recognise and be inspired by the awe and wonder of God’s creation through studying the work of artists and consequently use their talents to communicate their appreciation of God’s world.

Our children will be taught Art and Design following ‘Kapow Primary’ in a way that ensures progression of skills, and follows a sequence to build on previous learning. Our children will gain experience and skills of a wide range of formal elements of art in a way that will enhance their learning opportunities, enabling them to use art and design across a range of subjects to be creative and solve problems, ensuring they make progress.

Throughout the curriculum children will be given opportunities:

• To develop knowledge, understanding and skills.
• To learn about materials and techniques used by artists
• To learn about the world of art, craft and design
• To recognise achievement of artists, designers and craftspeople, from many different times and cultures.

We aim to raise the standards of the pupils’ abilities in specific art and craft skills such as:

• Cutting
• Joining
• Drawing
• Evaluating
• Use of sketchbooks within KS1 and KS2

We aim to increase the opportunities for the children to experience:

• Art from different cultures
• Visits to art galleries, exhibitions and studios
• Using different materials and techniques
• Art and Artists within our community

Implementation

We follow a broad and balanced Art and Design curriculum that builds on previous learning and provides both support and challenge for learners. We follow ‘Kapow Primary’ Art and Design scheme that ensures a full progression of skills and covers all aspects of the National Curriculum for Art and Design for Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2.

All classes from year 1 – Year 6 will have either a discrete Art and Design or Design Technology programme through a series of lessons every term. Children’s work and pictures of their work will be stored on shared drive folders and in sketch books for progression, reference and assessment. We want to ensure that Art and Design is embedded in our whole school curriculum and that opportunities for enhancing learning by using art are always taken.

The children's learning is further enhanced with whole school projects when the children have the opportunity for collaborative working and exploring the different styles and techniques of a range of artists.

Impact

Progress in Art and Design is demonstrated through regularly celebrating, displaying and sharing the children’s work, in accordance with our Creative Arts action plan to ensure that progression of skills is taking place. The Art and Design curriculum will contribute to children’s personal development in creativity, independence, judgement and self-reflection. This would be seen in them being able to talk confidently about their work, and sharing their work with others. Progress will be shown through outcomes and through the important record of the process leading to them.

Our children enjoy and value Art and Design and know why they are doing things, not just how. They will understand and appreciate the value of Art and Design in the context of their personal wellbeing and the creative and cultural industries and their many career opportunities.

Ongoing assessments take place throughout the year. Teachers use this information to inform future lessons; ensuring children are supported and challenged appropriately. This data is analysed to inform and address any trends or gaps in attainment.

Children in Foundation Stage are assessed within Expressive Arts and Design and their progress is tracked by their class teacher. Age related expectation levels are reported to parents at the end of the reception year.

Click here to view our Art and Design Progression Map.