Intent
We want to inspire and challenge children, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to participate in, experiment with, invent and create their own works of art, craft and design. We want children to be inspired by a wide range of artists, crafts people and designers, confidently critique their work and use it to influence their own decision making process. Through studying a diverse range of artists pupils will learn how art and design both reflect and shape our history and contribute to the culture, creativity and wealth of our nation. We want children to be able to express themselves through different media and feel empowered to think creatively. We intend to make all learning meaningful and memorable.
Implementation
Our curriculum offers children frequent opportunities to develop their practical skills using a wide range of media at their own pace. We know that progression is not linear so all work is valued and recorded and not marked. However, to encourage children’s progress and creativity, we observe children while they work and capture moments where they evaluate effectively, use the language of art and design, collaborate well and make creative decisions.
In each unit of work the children draw and create using a range of media, whilst exploring the work of an artist, crafts person, or designer. They choose which of their existing skills they wish to practise before being taught new skills to add to their ‘tool kit’. We also teach shorter or one-off skills lessons and give the children opportunities to free draw in their sketchbooks, valuing their ideas and allowing them time to just enjoy drawing. Work in sketchbooks documents each child’s unique progress and learning journey that year.
Children are encouraged to move their learning forward by reflecting on their own work. Self-evaluation is taught throughout each unit and is supported by peer and teacher led critiques.
Our planning is based on the 'Kapow' Art resource (see below for more information), and adapted where necessary to meet the needs of the children in our school. Each block of teaching gives opportunities to
- Generate Ideas
- Consider formal elements
- Develop making skills
- Increase knowledge of artists work and techniques
- Evaluate work
Kapow Primary’s Art and design content features a formal elements and skills topic within each year group.
The formal elements topics focus on teaching the discreet skills of the formal elements of art which are:
- line
- shape
- tone
- texture
- pattern
- colour
The skills topics again, focus on specifically developing pupils’ art, craft and design skills.
The knowledge and skills from these two topic areas are then applied throughout the rest of the scheme within the other topics areas.
Impact
Assessment:
Newbold Church School uses an assessment spreadsheet (via FFT) for our Art and design scheme as a place to record formative assessments of our pupils.
For each lesson we consider the 'Assessing Pupils Progress' statements in the lesson plans and mark down on the spreadsheet whether children have achieved the learning objective. The spreadsheet will then tell us the percentage of lessons where the pupil has achieved each grading and allows us to analyse whole- class trends too.
Outcomes:
Since introducing our newly designed curriculum the children have really improved their art and sketchbook skills. They are taking more ownership and pleasure in recording their findings, from research and exploration and can evaluate their work and work of others more confidently.
The process of exploring, critiquing and developing ideas has been valued more by staff and children. This can be seen on displays across school. Children are keen to show their sketchbooks to other staff in school.
The effective use of sketchbooks means children have all their ideas and work to look back on in the future making it memorable.
The spiral curriculum (see below) allows children to revisit different mediums and techniques throughout their school life, meaning children have the skills and confidence to express themselves and produce work they enjoy making and can be proud of.
National Curriculum Purpose of study:
Art, craft and design embody some of the highest forms of human creativity. A high-quality art and design education should engage, inspire and challenge pupils, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to experiment, invent and create their own works of art, craft and design. As pupils progress, they should be able to think critically and develop a more rigorous understanding of art and design. They should also know how art and design both reflect and shape our history, and contribute to the culture, creativity and wealth of our nation.
Aims:
The national curriculum for art and design aims to ensure that all pupils:
- produce creative work, exploring their ideas and recording their experiences
- become proficient in drawing, painting, sculpture and other art, craft and design techniques
- evaluate and analyse creative works using the language of art, craft and design
- know about great artists, craft makers and designers, and understand the historical and cultural development of their art forms.
Attainment targets:
By the end of each key stage, pupils are expected to know, apply and understand the matters, skills and processes specified in the relevant programme of study.