Art

At St Michael’s C of E Primary Academy, we have chosen a curriculum for art with the intent that our children will, from the very beginning of school, develop a sense of creativity, along with high level of skill and ability to apply that skill. We aim for our children to become confident artists, comfortable in expressing their thoughts and feelings through the medium of art and celebrate those children with natural artistic flare. 

We will deliver a curriculum that: 

• Enables children to master techniques and develop observation and evaluation skills. 

• Allows our children to gain knowledge and skills to examine, experiment and create their own pieces of work, expressing their own personalities and experiences. 

• Builds progressively on the skills taught throughout each year group and key stage. 

• Develops children language skills so that they are able to talk with clarity and passion about art and artists’ techniques. 

• Gives children the chance to experience and participate in a range of creative activities and events. 

• Allows children to engage with a range of high-quality artists and develop the language of appraisal. 

• Improves self-efficacy by developing a safe environment to experiment and learn from mistakes. 

• Where possible, gives children entitlement to a wide range of experiences in the arts as part of, and in addition to, the taught curriculum.  

• Introduces them to an appreciation of the arts that will last a lifetime. 

• Develops their appreciation of how art plays a key role in the diverse cultural heritage within the locality and beyond.   

• Helps them make personal interpretations of what they have experienced. 

• Encourages children to express themselves creatively using a wide range of media including drawing, painting, collage, sculpture and printmaking. 

The curriculum is led and overseen by the art lead. As art lead, a regular programme of monitoring, evaluation and review and the celebration of good practice will contribute to the ongoing commitment to evolve and improve further.  Other experiences and opportunities are designed by teachers to best meet the learning and developmental needs of the children in our school. The teaching, learning and sequencing of the curriculum follows: 

• All children follow a program of progressive skills in art and design. These take place in discrete art and design lessons and also as a means of communication in other wider curriculum subjects. 

 • Wherever possible first-hand experiences and real things are used to stimulate art and design activities. Teaching is done in whole class groups followed by group and individual work. New techniques and skills are modelled and worked examples are shown to the children. 

 • In group and individual work, pupils have the opportunity to investigate, explore and develop ideas and techniques. They are also involved in evaluating their work, celebrating success and identifying areas for improvement. 

 • Where appropriate art activities are differentiated to ensure that all pupils can access the tasks and have an appropriate level of challenge. Pupils with particular talents are given opportunities to extend them. Opportunities for using and extending art skills are built into lessons in other subjects. 

•At St Michael’s, we ensure that children also have access to contemporary (20th and 21st century) artists as well as more traditional ones, that are relevant to children today. This occurs, not only in discrete lessons but in a whole school initiative of sharing artwork in classes and capturing their thoughts and feelings. 

Each pupil will: 

• Develop a life-long love of art and the freedom and expression it provides. 

• Experience a broad, balanced arts curriculum, with an emphasis on the development of understanding and skills in art and design. 

• Experience the enriching impact of art through other areas of the curriculum. 

• Be given a wide range of opportunities to express themselves creatively.   

• Begin to develop awareness of the emotional impact the arts have on themselves and on an audience.  

• Create own artwork that they are proud of and reflects excellence for them. 

From the very beginning children are encouraged to represent their own ideas, thoughts and feelings through their exploration of expressive arts and design. Children will do this by safely using and exploring a range of materials, tools and techniques, experimenting with colour, design, texture, form and function. Encouraging attitudes of curiosity and questioning, as well as skills and techniques is important when supporting the progression of the children’s creativity and confidence in their ideas and skills. The process and development of skills is valued equally to the final product and a balance of opportunities for children to explore process and not focus solely on final products are given to ensure a clear development of skills across the year.