At Curwen we aim to develop the whole child with their art education journey starting in EYFS. Our intention is for the children to be confident young artists and to be able to share their knowledge and understanding of art. We provide opportunities for children to offer CPD sessions and to share their knowledge and understanding with other children (Arts Ambassadors). Children are introduced to a wide range of artists, techniques and rich experiences, which enable them to develop their knowledge and skills progressively throughout their time at Curwen Primary School. Our art curriculum introduces children to various artists to acknowledge modern and contemporary art produced by artists in various countries around the world , who have had a profound impact on current arts and artistic ways of thinking. These artists are from a variety of art movements and allow the children to explore new vocabulary, styles of working and a knowledge of art history. Our creative lessons mean that children develop their observation, line-work and artistic skills from an early age in painting, drawing, mixed-media, sculpture and printmaking. This is developed as they go through the school, leaving us after Year 6 as confident, knowledgeable and well-rounded artists. We believe in threading British Values throughout our curriculum. In Art, we are particularly focused on individual choice and every child’s individual right to express themselves freely and the right to have an opinion. We teach this through discussion and appraisals of artists work from the present and the past. British artists taught in the classroom, include (but are not limited to) Andy Goldsworthy, Chris Ofili and John Duffin and Stephen Wiltshire.

When delivering the creative curriculum at Curwen there is a real focus on teaching our children new skills and knowledge. To ensure art lessons provide the children with a real sense of purpose, sessions and activities are cross-curricular. These cross-curricular links help immerse the children in their art sessions and ensure they are memorable.

• At Curwen, Art is taught in every year group and will be taught during the first half or second half of each term (alternating with DT).

• Each child has a sketchbook. Children use their sketchbooks to make initial sketches, develop skills, record ideas and develop opinions.

• Every child has a knowledge and skills sheets in their sketchbook. These sheets allow children to refer back to key skills and knowledge that will be covered in their lessons. They also give children an insight into their progression and aid a self reflection process for each child.

• Throughout the Curwen journey, every child is given the opportunity to learn the skills of drawing, painting, printing, sculpture and digital art through the exploration of an initial key artist, craft maker or designer and their work. Key knowledge and skills are covered and intertwined through year groups.

• Through in-depth discussion, the pupils explore how their art can share common themes with famous art and use subject-specific vocabulary to discuss key artworks and their own work.

• To aid the development of confident art critics, the pupils share their opinions and make informed observations about what will improve their own practical work.

• Cross-curricular links are promoted to allow all children to deepen their understanding across the curriculum, including the use of technology, and artworks from year group specific historical, geographical and scientific contexts.

• Opportunities for children to visit local art galleries and museums are planned for, as well as visits from local artists.

• Teachers follow a clear progression of skills and have access to resources and CPD (Access Art)

• Our Subject Assessment Tracker allows us to use data to inform future practice.

• Curwen Core Skills

• 'Proud to BE' (Termly competitions)

• Art Nurture/Therapy

By the end of their time with us at Curwen, pupils will have learned, improved and embedded a range of artistic skills. They should have an awareness of a broad range of artists and craftspeople, and be able to consider and discuss the artworks they come across. We want our pupils to be confident to explore, experiment and take risks, placing value on the process and journey that they take, not just on the finished product. This is monitored and assessed through Learning ladders to track each pupil's progress throughout the year. Most importantly, we want children to have found and enjoyed a creative outlet – a means of self-expression and enjoyment.