Art

Intent

Art provides a powerful platform for developing essential life skills such as patience, resilience, calmness and positive mental wellbeing, which sit at the heart of our curriculum intent. In a society where children are increasingly exposed to technology and instant gratification, we recognise the importance of providing meaningful opportunities for creativity, reflection and sustained focus. 

We aim for all pupils to leave the end of Key Stage 2 with the confidence and ability to draw and paint from observation, including objects and self-portraits, and to explore a range of materials and techniques to create sculptures and prints. Children are introduced to a wide range of artists, craftspeople and designers, enabling them to recognise different artistic styles and traditions. They are also encouraged to develop their evaluative skills by sharing opinions, offering constructive critique and reflecting on both their own work and that of others. 

Promoting children’s wellbeing is a key driver of our Art curriculum. We provide a relaxed, inclusive and supportive environment where pupils are encouraged to experiment, take creative risks and express their thoughts, feelings and ideas through a variety of media. 

Implementation

As a school, we provide pupils with rich opportunities to make meaningful connections with works of art and to explore how artists, craftspeople and designers communicate ideas, values, beliefs and moral issues through their work. Visits to theatres, art galleries and museums enhance pupils’ cultural capital and social development, supporting them to form and articulate their own ideas, respect the viewpoints of others and appreciate creativity, innovation and beauty. 

Children are taught to recognise how images and artefacts influence how people think and feel, and to understand the messages and emotions conveyed through art. Our carefully sequenced progression plan ensures that pupils develop the necessary skills, knowledge and understanding over time. The National Curriculum underpins our provision and enables children to revisit, refine and build upon prior learning as they progress from Key Stage 1 to Year 6. 

Teaching is adapted to meet the needs of all pupils through thoughtful planning and a range of appropriate tasks. Transferrable skills are embedded and applied across the wider curriculum, allowing children to deepen their understanding of other subjects. For example, pupils may sketch historical artefacts in detail, or use art as a medium to express emotions, supporting their personal, social and emotional development. 

Sketchbooks are used effectively to record, investigate and develop ideas and techniques. They support pupils in asking questions, exploring possibilities, collecting and organising visual information, reviewing and refining work, and evaluating decisions. Sketchbooks also provide a clear record of progression across the key stage, highlighting individual strengths and areas for development. Our progression plan promotes intelligent repetition, enabling pupils to revisit and secure skills while continually improving their artistic outcomes. 

Pupil voice demonstrates that children enjoy the freedom of self-expression offered through Art. Much of the artwork produced is cross-curricular, allowing pupils to communicate emotions and demonstrate learning in subjects such as History, Geography and Science. Children’s work has been shared with the wider community, with artwork proudly displayed in local venues including the church. 

During our annual Arts Day, pupils may have opportunities to work alongside visiting artists and external agencies, enriching their experiences and broadening their understanding of creative careers. We celebrate pupils’ achievements through high-quality displays across the school, and extra-curricular art and craft clubs are well attended. 

Staff are supported through dedicated time to share good practice, develop subject knowledge and collaborate on the creation of high-quality teaching resources. The Art Curriculum Leader monitors standards through annual sketchbook reviews and whole-school moderation to ensure pupils meet age-related expectations. The school is well resourced, enabling pupils to experiment confidently with a wide range of tools, materials and media. 

Assessment is informed by the aims of the National Curriculum. A progression of skills support teachers in identifying where pupils are working in regard to the national expectations. Staff have received training to ensure consistent judgements, supported by exemplars of work. 

Impact

The impact of our Art curriculum is that pupils leave our school as confident, creative learners with a broad and connected knowledge of artists and artistic traditions from around the world. They can draw, paint and manipulate materials to create sculptures and prints, and they are able to discuss, evaluate and critique artwork using appropriate vocabulary. 

Pupils take pride in showcasing their talents and use art as a meaningful way to express emotions, ideas and personal experiences. They leave with secure art and design skills, knowledge and understanding, enabling them to both produce and appreciate artwork as they transition successfully to secondary school and beyond. 

Progression of Skills