ART and DESIGN

At St Stephen's, we believe that a high-quality, meaningful art education will inspire children to think innovatively and develop creatively. It will harness resilience, uniqueness and creative processes, encouraging them to become reflective learners who flourish in their learning.

'He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.' Psalm 1 v 3

INTENT

It is our belief that all children should have access to an Art and Design curriculum which fosters a lifelong love and appreciation of art and all it encompasses.

We strive to present children with a diverse range of lessons, so that they can experience art and design from different cultures and periods of historical significance. 

Our curriculum provides children with opportunities to learn about art processes; to use a range of media and materials and to develop their skills of drawing, painting, printing, collage, textiles, 3D work and digital art; to learn the associated art vocabulary; and to provide opportunities to explore and evaluate their own creative ideas. 

It is our intent that we will enable access to the rich art environment that surrounds them locally and within the wider community, through regular gallery visits and working collaboratively with local galleries and artists.

Children’s learning and art experiences will result in them being able to use the visual elements, processes and skills of art and design confidently in their own work; to take risks, to persevere and experiment with their own designs. 

It is our intent to develop children’s passion and love for the subject but also build a respect, natural inquisitiveness and an appreciation of art in all its forms, which they may carry with them throughout their lives.  

IMPLEMENTATION 

Children’s use and understanding of the visual language of art is developed by effective teaching and learning, through a considered sequence of experiences and a carefully structured spiral curriculum that is progressive and builds upon prior learning. 

At St Stephen’s we use the ‘Kapow Primary Art & Design’ scheme, which is structured to provide a coherent and comprehensive art education. The scheme ensures a balanced coverage of key artistic skills and concepts, delivered through engaging and well-resourced lessons. 

Five strands of learning run throughout the curriculum: 

-  Generating ideas

-  Using sketchbooks

-  Making skills including formal elements (line, shape, tone, texture, pattern, colour)

- Knowledge of artists

- Evaluating and analysing their work and the work of others

 

Units of lessons are sequential, allowing children to build their skills and knowledge, applying them to a range of outcomes. 

Units in each year group are organised into four core areas:

-  Drawing

-  Painting and mixed-media

-  Sculpture and 3D

-  Craft and design

Children learn how to make their own creative choices and decisions, so that their art outcomes, whilst still being knowledge-rich, are unique to them.

The National Curriculum states that children should become proficient in drawing, painting, sculpture and other art, craft and design techniques. These skills and learning are built upon progressively, from EYFS through to Year 6.

Teachers implement the teaching of art by flexibly interpreting and adapting the planning framework to fit their own creative teaching and deliver exciting and engaging lessons that are responsive to children’s specific skills, their cultural background and their individual learning needs. Some cross-curricular links are made with other subjects, enabling art to enrich those subjects too. This is supported by visits to art galleries and museums, through whole school projects,  by working with visiting artists and participating in local and national art projects outside the school community.

IMPACT

The impact and effectiveness of the teaching and learning in art, will be seen through the children’s enjoyment; their resilience and ability to take risks; their attainment and knowledge of artists and craftspeople; their ability to talk about and respond to art personally; their ability to reflect upon and evaluate their work and the work of others. They will be instilled with the knowledge that ‘they’ have the future potential to be designers, artists, sculptors, illustrators, digital artists and craftmakers.

Evidence will be seen in the progression of specific skills across the year groups. It will be measurable by work evidenced in their sketchbooks, through discussion with pupils and in displays.

By the time our children leave St Stephen’s  they will be able to:

-  Take risks

-  Know and talk about an abundance of artists

-  Work with a range of media

- Think critically

- Work thoughtfully in drawing, painting, sculpture and craft and design techniques.

Children will be prepared for their next stage of learning, equipped with a range of techniques and the confidence and creativity to form a strong foundation for their Art and design learning at Key Stage 3 and beyond.