Art Curriculum Statement

ART & DESIGN

Intent – What are we trying to achieve?

At Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School and Nursery, we want our children to love art, craft and design!  We want them to have no limits to what their ambitions are and to grow up wanting to be illustrators, graphic designers, fashion designers, curators, architects or printmakers.  Our Art curriculum is designed to engage, inspire and challenge pupils, whilst equipping them with the knowledge and skills to be able to experiment, invent and create their own works of art.  As pupils progress, they should gain a deeper understanding of how Art and Design reflects and shapes our history, and how it contributes to the culture, creativity and wealth of our world.  We want to equip our children with not only the minimum statutory requirements of the Art and Design National Curriculum but to prepare them for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of later life.

Implementation – How is our vision translated into practice?

• Our Art and Design curriculum is based on the National Curriculum, and is informed by AccessArt’s ‘split’ curriculum https://www.accessart.org.uk/split-accessart-primary-art-curriculum/.  Art and Design and Design and Technology are taught alternatively each half-term. 

• Each child has a sketchbook.  We give the child ownership of their sketchbook in order to foster their sense of creativity.  Children use their sketchbooks to make initial sketches, develop skills, record ideas and develop opinions.

• Opportunities to reflect and develop, including through the use of sketchbooks, and chances for self and peer-assessment are planned into each unit of study in KS1 and KS2.

• Throughout their Sacred Heart journey, every child is given the opportunity to learn the skills of drawing, painting, printing, collage, sculpture and digital art through the exploration of an initial key artist, craft maker or designer and their work.

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

• In 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 which ensures all pupils are challenged in line with their year group expectations and are given the opportunity to build on their prior knowledge and skills.

• Effective CPD and standardisation opportunities are available to staff to ensure high levels of confidence and knowledge are maintained.

EYFS

Children are given daily access to a range of creative opportunities and enjoy our carefully planned and well-resourced creative areas both indoors and out.  Children are encouraged to create on both small and large scales and our outdoor environment supports this well.  Children are encouraged to develop their communication and language skills through talking about their creations and sharing these with others to build confidence and raise self-esteem.  Children explore different media, explore how media can be combined to create different effects and develop a range of skills and techniques experimenting with colour, design, texture, form and function.  

Children experience open-ended creative learning, placing emphasis on the creative journey and nurturing children to become confident and independent creators. 

Impact – What is the impact of our curriculum?

The impact of this curriculum design will lead to effective progress over time across key stages relative to a child’s individual starting point and their progression of skills.  Children will therefore be expected to leave Sacred Heart School reaching at least age-related expectations for Art and Design, demonstrating knowledge, skills and terminologies and creative outlets.  Our Art and Design curriculum will also lead pupils to be enthusiastic Art and Design learners, who develop their own artistic style evidenced in a range of ways, including pupil voice, their final pieces and sketchbooks.  We ensure that children who are achieving well, as well as those who need additional support, are identified, and additional provision and strategies are planned in and discussed with class teachers.  

Achievements are celebrated in classrooms during walking-galleries and corridor displays: we aim to develop our future artists and their appreciation of the art around them.

Senior Leadership Team and subject leaders monitor the impact of our art provision through regular monitoring, including pupil voice.