Art

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.

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.

It is our intent that we will enable access to the rich art environment that surrounds them locally and within the wider community.

Our curriculum ensures that children’s experiences will result in them being able to use the visual elements, techniques and skills of art and design confidently in their own work; to take risks and experiment with their own designs.

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.

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 provided to fit within their own creative teaching and deliver exciting and engaging lessons that are responsive to children’s specific skills and individual learning needs. This is supported by visits to art galleries and museums, through whole school projects, by working with visiting artists and by participating in local and national art projects outside the school community.

Scroll down to see examples of our children's amazing art work and find out more about the curriculum.

EYFS provision for Expressive Art and Design

In the Early Years Foundation Stage, Expressive Art and Design is embedded throughout the daily provision, in both Nursery and Reception.

Creative activities are used as a vehicle and starting point for much of the children’s learning, either through imaginative role play and dressing up, small world story telling, recreating known and imagined story settings, making creatures out of found objects, clay or leaves, sticks… the choice of materials as a starting point is endless. The children experience a wide range of materials and medium, as well as exploring colour mixing; manipulating and joining; constructing; making decisions and refining their ideas.

Our intent is to provide children with the materials, resources or activities that facilitate their learning or understanding of a particular topic but if they choose to use these in a different way and with a different outcome that is fine.

Our focus is very much about the process or creating and imagining and the learning journey the children make rather than the end product.

A whole school project, celebrating the artist Faith Ringold and her book, Tar Beach.

This is some of the artwork made in response to it.

Click her to find out more about Faith Ringold and listen to her story.

IMPACT

The impact and effectiveness of the teaching and learning in art, will be seen through the children’s enjoyment; their attainment and knowledge of art movements, artists and craftspeople; their ability to talk about and respond to art personally; their ability to reflect upon, evaluate their work and the work of others.

Children will be prepared for their next stage of learning.

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.

Goldsmith's Gallery Visit Project.

Following Year 6's recent gallery visit, here's their discussion, responses and reflections upon the Airmail art exhibition of Chilean artist, Eugenio Dittborn.