Our School Offer for Art and Design

Within the Purpose of Study for Art & Design (National Curriculum 2014), we know that ‘’Art, Craft and Design embody some of the highest forms of human creativity. A high-quality Art & Design education should engage, inspire and challenge pupils, equipping them with the knowledge & skills to experiment, invent and create their own works of art, craft & design.

What do we mean by Art & Design?
In Key Stage 2, we aim for all pupils to produce creative work, exploring their ideas & recording their experiences. We aim for them to become proficient in drawing, painting and sculpture and other art, craft and design techniques. Children will be supported to evaluate and analyse creative works, using the language of art, create & design. They will also know about great artists, craft makes and designers and understand the historical and cultural development of their art forms.

How do we teach Art and Design?
• Each year group has assigned skills & knowledge based upon drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpting and Craft & Design
• Teachers choose to plan Art across blocked units of work within the year
• Art & Design is taught mainly as a discrete subject (cross-curricular links are made where relevant)
• Each child is provided with their own Sketchbook (one in Year 3 & 4 and a new book in Year 5 & 6); they record their observations and use them to review and revisit ideas

How do we inspire a love of Art & Design?
We believe that Art & Design engages, inspires and challenges children. We believe that we can stimulate creativity by immersing children with the work of great artists, craft makers and designers. Opportunities to display and celebrate Art and Design are regularly sought through displays across the school, in class assemblies through our Work of the Week, mini classroom galleries and taking our artwork further afield when possible (eg. Ilminster Children’s Art Exhibition).

How do we help children who find Art and Design difficult?
During Art and Design lessons, children are taken on a systematic journey of skills that build confidence and resilience. We model to children how to edit and develop their art when it does not go as intended and guide them through how to make those improvements. Art and Design, by its creative nature, allows children freedom to experiment in a safe and supportive environment.

How do we assess Art and design?
We assess against year group skills & knowledge, using key assessment opportunities that the school has identified. We choose not to write in sketchbooks and, instead, offer verbal feedback.

How can Parents/Carers help?
Many Parents/Carers encourage creativity at home and enrich their children’s lives through trips to Museums, Galleries & Exhibitions. This is key to all children understanding their ‘Cultural Capital’ (This is the essential knowledge that pupils need to be educated citizens, introducing them to the best that has been thought and said and helping engender an appreciation of human creativity and achievement’.)