Art and Design
Art and Design
Intent
At Bishop Ridley C of E Primary School, we value Art and Design as an important part of the children’s entitlement to a broad and balanced curriculum. Art and Design provides the children with the opportunities to produce creative and imaginative work and to express their individual interests, thought and ideas.
Throughout their Art and Design lessons, children have the opportunity to explore their ideas and record their experiences, as well as exploring the work of others and evaluating different creative ideas. Children will become confident and proficient in a variety of artistic techniques, including drawing, painting, sculpting, printing and other selected craft skills, such as weaving and digital art.
From Nursery to Year 6, children will have the opportunity to develop their knowledge of a range of artists, designers and sculptors and understand the historical and cultural significance of their art forms. Children will also develop their curiosity about colour theory, through a series of lessons offering progression of skills and knowledge. Lessons provide pupils the chance for children to develop their emotional expression through art to further enhance their personal, social and emotional development.
Implementation
The teaching and implementation of the Art and Design curriculum at Bishop Ridley is based on the National Curriculum and projects are well-sequenced to provide a coherent subject scheme that develops children’s skills and knowledge of visual elements, art forms, artists and art movements.
In each year group, at least one project is placed alongside other subject projects where there are opportunities for making meaningful connections. For example, in Year 2, pupils learn about flower art and the work of Yayoi Kasuma in the same term as they learn about plants in their science lessons and Year 6 study Inuit art during their Frozen Kingdoms geography unit, in which they learn about life in the polar regions.
Where possible, projects which require similar materials are spaced out to have minimal strain on resources across the school, for example, in Key Stage 1, clay work is taught in different terms. Seasons are also a consideration for the placement of art and design projects, for example, if children are required to work outdoors, these projects have been placed in either the latter part of the spring or summer term.
Each class in Years 1 to 6 begins the academic year with a colour project. In Key Stage 1, pupils are introduced to colour theory and this provides plentiful opportunities for children to explore primary and secondary colours. In Years 3 and 4, children build on this work by studying contrasting and complementary colours. In Upper Key Stage 2, pupils develop further expertise and study tonal variations and more complex colour charts.
Other areas of Art and Design covered include collagraphs, portraits, still life, sculpture, mosaics, landscapes, nature and Pop Art. Pupils also have the opportunity to explore the works of famous local, national and international artists and use these as a basis for their own creations. More information can be found within the long-term plan.
In the Early Years Foundation stage, children explore art as part of their continuous provision as well as through adult-led activities. Children are taught to recognise and use a range of materials to design and make products and to develop their skills of drawing, painting and sculpture and other art techniques. Work becomes increasingly independent and children are able to share their ideas and final pieces with others.
Impact
Through following a Cornerstones Curriculum in line with the National Curriculum, it is expected that teaching and learning will show progression across all key stages within the strands of Art and Design.
At Bishop Ridley C of E Primary School, ongoing assessments take place throughout the year. Teachers use this information to inform future lessons; ensuring children are supported and challenged appropriately. It is our aim that children will retain knowledge and skills taught within each unit of work, remember these and understand how to use and apply these in their own art work.
By the time children leave Bishop Ridley C of E Primary School, we want them to have developed a passion for art and creativity, working both independently and collaboratively. They will have grown in confidence when using a range of tools and techniques, becoming artists that can apply the skills and knowledge that they have developed throughout the years and respond critically to their own and other’s work.