Art & Design
Intent:
At Holywell, we are ARTISTS. 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.
We want them to think and act confidently and adventurously using observation, memory and imagination.
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 our children to use the local area as inspiration, to learn from other cultures and to respect diversity. To that end, we have carefully selected a wide range of unique and diverse artists, craft makers and designers for children to study.
We aim to provide an Art and Design curriculum for all pupils to be taught in a way that ensures progression of age-appropriate skills and that also follows a sequence to build on previous learning.
We very much value Art and Design and know that the appreciation and enjoyment of the visual arts enrich all of our lives.
Our curriculum design is based on evidence from cognitive science – that learning is most effective with spaced repetition and that retrieval of previously learned content is frequently and regular to increase both storage and retrieval strength.
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:
Teachers use the National Curriculum, Ventrus Curriculum Approach and Chris Quigley Companions as a basis for planning. Within this, much of our teaching and learning for Art is linked to other subjects where appropriate but may also be taught discretely.
Art and Design is taught and explored in each year group and provides a valuable, educational, social and cultural learning experience for each child. It enables our children to explore and communicate what they see, feel and think through the use of different techniques and materials.
- 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.
- Throughout the Holywell journey, every child is given the opportunity to learn the skills of drawing, painting, printing, sculpture and digital art through the exploration of an initial key artist, craft maker or designer and their work
- 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.
- 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.
- In order to support children in their ability to ‘know more and remember more’ there are regular opportunities to review the learning taken place in previous topics as well as previous lessons.
EYFS
Through Expressive Arts children are encouraged to 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 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.
Impact
The impact of this curriculum design will lead to good progress over time across key stages relative to a child’s individual starting point and their progression of skills.
Our Art and Design curriculum will also lead pupils to be enthusiastic Art and Design learners, 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.
Ongoing assessments take place throughout the year. Teachers use this information to inform future lessons; ensuring children are supported and challenged appropriately.
We work to improve staff knowledge and confidence, leading to a stronger profile in Art and Design and raised pupil achievement.
Achievements are celebrated in classrooms during corridor and class displays, and by building in increasing connections with local galleries and artists, we aim to develop our future artists and their appreciation of the art around them.