Art and design stimulates creativity and imagination. It provides visual and sensory experiences as well a special way of understanding and responding to the world. A high-quality art and design education should inspire, engage and challenge children - enabling pupils to communicate what they see, feel and think through the use of colour, texture, form and pattern. 

Children will become involved in shaping their environment through art and design activities, involving different creative techniques. They will explore ideas and meaning through the work of artists and designers. As they learn about the history, roles and functions of art, they will explore the impact it has on contemporary life and that of different times and cultures. 

The national curriculum for art and design aims to ensure all pupils: 

1. Produce creative work, exploring their ideas and recording their experiences

 2. Become proficient in drawing, painting, sculpture and other art, craft and design techniques 

3. Evaluate and analyse creative works using the language of art, craft and design 

4. Know about great artists, craft makers and designers, and understand the historical and cultural development of their art forms. 

At St Mary’s we will achieve this by:

• Linking art when possible to the topic for the term, to ensure relevance and context. 

• Teaching a predominantly skills-based curriculum, covering drawing, painting, sculpture, textiles and printing. 

• Re-visiting skills and honing them in a spiral curriculum, which progresses in terms of depth and challenge, to build on the children’s previous learning.

 • Ensuring that each child develops their skills and techniques in a way appropriate to them, through clear differentiation and support, active and purposeful experiences, using a variety of art materials and teaching strategies. 

• Fostering an enjoyment and appreciation of the visual arts and a knowledge of artists, craftspeople and designers 

• Introducing children to artists and art movements directly linked to the skills or topics they are covering. 

• Utilising a sketchbook approach, so learning is documented, progress recorded and children feel safe to experiment and take risks

• Openly promoting art and design as a possible further study or career choice. 

• Encouraging each child to evaluate their art and design work and that of others, both with peers and adults. 

• Celebrating effort, progress and achievement in art through displays, exhibitions and enrichment activities, such as trips out and competitions. 

Impact 

By the end of their time with us, we want pupils to have a range of artistic skills embedded. They should have an awareness of a broad range of artists and be able to consider and discuss the artworks they experience. We want pupils to be confident to explore, experiment and take risks, placing value on the process and journey they take, not just on the finished product. Most importantly, we want children to find and enjoy a creative outlet as a means of self-expression