Art and Design

Art and Design 

Intent

At Stubbins Primary, we believe that Art and design embody some of the highest forms of human creativity and enriches our lives.   Just as the artists express their thoughts and feelings through their artwork, by studying art, by inspiring creativity in our pupils, we believe that pupils are encouraged to connect with and share their opinions emotions with others in a positive way.   

We are determined to ensure that every child develops their artistic skills, but also that they gain an understanding of great artists to inspire them.  Our pupils are taught how art and design both reflect and shape our history, and contribute to the culture, creativity and wealth of our nation. The curriculum is structured to ensure pupils learn how artists differ around the world and understand the historical and cultural development of their art forms.

Our carefully designed art curriculum weaves the development of skills across the key art disciplines with a knowledge and understanding of common strands and themes used by artists. Our art curriculum is also designed to inspire a love an appreciation of art in a variety of forms.   The children are taught to think and behave as artists, developing skills across a range of disciplines which repeat and progress throughout their time at Stubbins.  Through our carefully planned and sequenced curriculum, we provide opportunities for pupils to:

• Develop key skills across each area of art:-
• Drawing/sketching
• Painting
• Sculpting
• Printing
• Textiles
• Collage
• Learn about key artists from traditional, modern and contemporary eras.
• Develop an understanding of key art strands such as movement, portrait, emotion, colour, shape and repetition.

We have ensured our art curriculum aligns with many of our school’s core values, in particular those of creativity, resilience, respect and curiosity. Through looking at a wide range of art and the stories of the artists who created them, children will develop their understanding and respect for different cultures, beliefs, and perspectives.  By studying how some artists have overcome personal challenges and used their art to convey personal meaning and messages, children are taught to develop their own resilience skills.

At our school, we aim to enrich the curriculum through wider opportunities such as themed days, artist visitors, links with the local comminity and gallery visits so that children at Stubbins leave school with an understanding of art beyond the classroom.  

Implementation

At Stubbins, Art is delivered through subject specific teaching, organised into 3 half-termly units per year group.  To achieve our intent, art is taught as a discrete subject within a carefully planned curriculum that ensures progression of skills and knowledge.

Our approach includes:

• A structured long-term plan ensuring full coverage of the National Curriculum.
• Thematic and chronological teaching approaches to support knowledge retention.
• Use of high-quality resources, including a variety of images, books, digital content and media.
• Study of artists and artwork that encourage children to respond to, evaluate and form opinions.
• Opportunities for experiential learning through trips, visitors, and practical activities.
• Regular assessment through formative and summative strategies, including quizzes, discussions, and project work.
• Continuous professional development for staff to enhance subject knowledge and effective teaching strategies.
• Use of high-quality teaching strategies, including modelling, scaffolding, and pre-teaching of vocabulary to support all learners.

Art is integrated across all key stages to ensure a progressive and cohesive learning experience:

• Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS): Children develop a sense of art by exploring and creating their own pieces.
• Key Stage 1: Pupils begin to explore significant artists and themes, explore colours and create simple shapes, both in 2 and 3 dimensions.  Pupils are provided with the opportunity to explore a range of media.  Children are taught specific vocabulary related to art and encouraged to respond to and have opinions about artwork.
• Key Stage 2: A more detailed study artists and themes, explore more complex colours, tints and shades and develop their use of shape and line both in 2 and 3 dimensions.  Pupils will focus on using a wider range of media and encouraged to combine these to give a personalised response.  Children will be taught to use a wider range of vocabulary appropriately to discuss their own response to artwork.
• Whole School Approach: Art is enriched through displays and cross-curricular projects that enhance engagement and deepen understanding.  Art is also enhanced by exhibition and show case events held to share children’s art.  This also allows the development of the school core value of pride through these events.  We also plan artist’s visits into school, have links with people in the local community who work in creative areas and ensure children visit art galleries and museums to further develop a love and appreciation of art forms.

EYFS

In the Early Years Foundation Stage we provide opportunities for children to:

• develop a curiosity and interest in the designed world through investigating, talking and asking questions about familiar objects;
• develop confidence and enthusiasm through frequent exploration of media to create and develop objects;
• construct with a purpose in mind, using a variety of resources, exploring colour, manipulating materials to achieve a planned effect; and
• extend their vocabulary through talking and explaining about their designing and creating activities.

KS1

• Use a range of materials creatively to design and make products.
• Use drawing, painting and sculpture to develop and share their experiences and imagination.
• Develop a wide range of art and design techniques in using colour, pattern, texture, line, shape, form and space.
• Learn 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.

KS2

• Develop techniques, including control and use of materials, with creativity, experimentation and increasing awareness of different kinds of art, craft and design.
• Create and use sketchbooks to record observations, to complete artist research, to complete designs and to review and revisit ideas.
• Improve mastery of art and design techniques, including drawing, painting and sculpture with a range of materials (for example, pencil, charcoal, paint, clay).
• Learn about historical and contemporary artists, architects and designers and how their work relates to and is influenced by society.

Impact

Our art curriculum is designed in such a way that children can talk confidently about what they have been learning in art and the skills they have developed.  Children are engaged in lessons and can recall their learning over time using subject specific vocabulary. Across the school. sketchbooks evidence that art is taught at an age-appropriate standard and shows progression of skills.

Our curriculum is bespoke to our school and is designed to form a strong foundation for pupil’s study of art at Key Stage 3 and beyond.  

Children will: 

• be able to talk about artists, strands and skills they have been taught.
• have a clear chronological understanding of the periods of art – traditional, modern and contemporary.
• be able to discuss how art makes them feel and their preferences in a respectful way.
• meet the end of key stage expectations outlined in the national curriculum for art.

The impact of our art curriculum is reflected in pupils who:

• Develop a deep understanding of art skills and concepts and can articulate their knowledge confidently.
• Can share their knowledge of key artists and discuss their art style.
• Appreciate the value of art as a high form of personal exoression.
• Show progression in their art knowledge and skills, as evidenced through assessment data, discussions, and work produced.
• Are well-prepared for the next stage of their education with a secure foundation in art skills and knowledge.

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