Art
Intent
At Bedonwell, we believe that art is a vital part of pupil’s education in which all have the opportunity to demonstrate their creative talents and excel. Our intent is to provide pupils across the federation with regular, high quality learning opportunities in which they can explore new artistic skills and techniques and use them uniquely to create pieces of art that they can be proud of. Alongside curriculum learning, we provide pupils with regular, contextualised, artistic enrichment in order that they develop a sense of interest, awe and excitement for the subject, as well as learn about and make links with different types of art in our culture and society.
Art is integral to our school’s Golden Values and underpins the personal, social and emotional development of pupils’ creativity and self-reflection. Through our creative curriculum, which is planned sequentially, the seven strands of art are covered and built upon each year, demonstrating progression in knowledge and skills. Each year, pupils explore techniques related to drawing, painting, 3d work, collage, textiles, photography and printing, in line with the long term overview document. Pupils are encouraged to reflect on their learning and develop a critical awareness of art and design in their own and other cultures. Pupils will also study cultural heritages through investigating a range of artists and designers.
Through the teaching of well thought out and engaging lessons, we aim that pupils explore art and develop their own sense of style and technique, allowing them to reach their full artistic potential. Ultimately, we want pupils to develop a sustained love of art that they can take with them through life.
Implementation
We have carefully considered chronology in our art planning that builds progressively on pupils’ knowledge and skills from Nursery to Year 6. We use the National Curriculum as a basis for our planning and personalise and extend it to suit our specific context. Subject Leaders work closely together to ensure consistency and high quality teaching and learning.
In Early Years Foundation Stage, Expressive Arts and Design activities are incorporated into daily practise via a creative table which children have the choice to access all day. Activities are carefully planned to provide a range of explorative opportunities in drawing, painting, construction and 3d work. In addition, the Expressive Arts and Design curriculum taken from the Early Years Foundation Stage framework is explicitly taught regularly through whole class teaching and small group activities on a half-termly basis.
Across Bedonwell, knowledge progression is essential to ensuring the development of artistic skills and we make sure that this is through regular factual recall and opportunities to practise and refine skills. This is supported through the studying of key artists and the development of thorough knowledge of their work, as well as varied enrichment opportunities.
Teachers follow a long term plan which shows yearly coverage of knowledge and skills. This ensures that knowledge is built upon and extended year by year and that all staff have a good working knowledge of the art curriculum across the whole school, from Nursery to Year 6. As new skills or media are introduced, pupils are given the opportunity to explore independently and develop their own creative strategies. Through clear verbal feedback and encouraged self-reflection, pupils then have the chance to refine and develop their knowledge and skills in order to improve their work.
Impact
Pupils leave our school having fostered an interest in and understanding of art, both from a knowledge and skills perspective and from a cultural stance.
Teachers enjoy teaching art and will be confident in its delivery. Via strong subject leadership, they have a clear overview of skills/knowledge coverage with a clear picture of progression across the federation.
Regardless of academic ability, all children/pupils will have had numerous opportunities to try new skills and develop their unique interests and style, thereby developing a lifelong love of art!