Art
Executive Summary
Art and Design Vision
Our vision is for all pupils to be engaged and inspired by art and to learn the skills to enable them to experiment, invent and create their own works of art, craft and design. Our pupils have opportunities to express their feelings through art and use creativity to lead mentally healthy lives, both now and in the future. (See Curriculum Driver 1 People Skills – communication and confidence). Our pupils will learn to appreciate the work of great artists and understand how art and design reflects and contributes to the history, heritage and culture of our nation and beyond. (See Curriculum Driver 3 Creativity – culture and enrichment).
The vision is achieved with:
A high-quality art and design curriculum including a wide range of media
A clear programme of study which teaches skills progressively
Opportunities for pupils to create their own work, explore their ideas and record their experiences
Examples of how art and design both reflect and shape our history and contribute to the culture, creativity and wealth of our nation.
Implementation of the Art and Design Vision
We have chosen to follow the Kapow Art and Design revised scheme of work. This programme of study meets our vision and enables pupils to meet the National Curriculum end of key stage attainment targets. The scheme gives pupils the opportunity to make their own creative choices and decisions, so that their art outcomes, whilst still being knowledge-rich, are unique to each pupil.
Skills and knowledge taught are organised into the following areas:
Generating ideas and using sketchbooks, taking inspiration from a diverse range of artists
Making skills: drawing, painting, printmaking, photography, mixed media, craft techniques and sculpture
Formal elements: colour, form, line, pattern, shape, texture and tone
Knowledge: of a diverse range of artists and craftspeople
Evaluating: critiquing their own work and that of others
Knowledge progresses through the teaching of formal elements, where pupils have the opportunity to learn and practice skills discretely. Skills progress through the four key strands of:
Drawing
Painting and mixed media
Sculpture and 3d
Craft and design
Key knowledge and skills are revisited, with increasing complexity, in a spiral curriculum model. This allows pupils to revise and build on their previous learning. Pupils use knowledge organisers that collate the knowledge, skills and vocabulary they need to support their learning.
The use of sketchbooks gives pupils opportunities to: reflect on their own work and the work of others,
revisit ideas, explore, create and practice. Pupils are encouraged to use inspiration from others and the work around them to create individual and purposeful art works.
Teacher modelling and pupil video clips are used during lessons to teach skills and provide essential knowledge. Teacher videos support non-specialist art teachers to improve their subject knowledge and therefore teach with greater confidence.
Art in Early Years Foundation Stage
Foundation Stage children investigate Expressive Art and Design through a topic based approach. Some skills are taught directly, but children are also provided with daily opportunities to access creative arts through play and exploration of a range of materials. The quality and variety of what children see, hear and participate in is crucial for developing their understanding, self-expression, vocabulary and ability to communicate through the arts. Children learn to express their ideas and feelings through different media, linked to Curriculum Driver 3 Creativity – Culture and Enrichment and Curriculum Driver 4 – Exploration Exceptional Explorers.
Art in Key stage 1 and 2
In Key Stages 1 and 2, all classes have a scheduled Art and Design lesson each week every other half term, alternated with Design Technology. Lessons are practical in nature and encourage experimental and exploratory learning.
Measuring the Impact of the Art and Design Vision and Implementation
Pupils will:
Produce creative work, exploring and recording their ideas and experiences
Be proficient in drawing, painting, sculpture and other art, craft and design techniques
Evaluate and analyse their own and recognised creative works using subject specific language
Know about great artists and the historical and cultural development of their art
Meet the end of key stage expectations outlined in the National Curriculum for Art and Design
Assessment
The curriculum allows time for children to regularly evaluate, identify and make improvements to their work. This links with the St Michael’s Curriculum Driver 2 - Learning skills: Aspiration and attitude. Each lesson includes assessment statements to aid assessment for learning. These are used to inform subsequent teaching, including targeted support and opportunities for working at greater depth. Summative assessments are made twice each year in February and June. Assessments are supported by using assessment statements and the unit outcome image bank.
Monitoring
Subject leader monitors provision in Art and Design through:
observations and learning walks
teacher/subject leader discussions
pupil voice activities
'deep dives' in Art and Design with the senior leadership team
analysis of attainment and progress
Outcomes are used to formulate the subject leader action plan which is updated twice each year.
Enrichment
An additional unit of art and design is allocated to each year group. Teachers use this unit to enhance the creativity in other subject areas and embed Art and design skills. Whole school art activities are provided throughout the year.
Curriculum Overview outlined in Appendix A
Skills progression outlined in Appendix B
Expectations, recording and feedback outlined in Appendix C