“Art is a foundation subject of the National Curriculum and an important part of developing our children’s ability to develop their individual creativity, express their ideas and understanding and to work both individually and collaboratively with others. Our aim is to ensure that children are confident approaching artwork, feel a strong sense of achievement, value the impact of art within our own lives and are able to reach their full potential.”

Art – Curriculum Intent

At Wombridge Primary School, we value Art and Design as an important part of the children’s entitlement to a broad and balanced curriculum. Our Art curriculum is designed to engage, inspire and challenge pupils, whilst equipping them with the knowledge and skills to be able to experiment, invent and create their own works of art. As pupils progress, they will build on prior knowledge by knowing more and remembering more and gaining a deeper understanding of how Art and Design reflects and shapes our history, and how it contributes to the culture, creativity and wealth of our world. We want to equip our children with not only the minimum statutory requirements of the Art and Design National Curriculum but to prepare them for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of later life.

Curriculum Implementation

We teach a knowledge rich, art curriculum, which allows children to express their creative imagination as well as providing them with opportunities to practise and develop mastery in the key processes of art: drawing, painting, printing, collage and sculpture. The emphasis on knowledge ensures that children understand the context of the artwork, as well as the artists that they are learning about and being inspired by their different techniques and artwork.

At Wombridge, Art is taught in every year group.
Every child has a knowledge organiser at the front of their sketchbooks. These knowledge organisers allow children to refer back to key vocabulary when needed. They also give children an insight towards what each module will be about and assist them to reflect on prior knowledge, ensuring they know more and remember more.
Each child has a sketchbook. We give the child ownership of their sketchbook in order to foster their sense of creativity. Children use their sketchbooks to make initial sketches, develop skills, record ideas and develop opinions.

Early Years Foundation Stage

Pupils explore and use a variety of media and materials through a combination of child initiated and adult directed activities. They have opportunities to learn to:

– Safely use and explore a variety of materials, tools and techniques, experimenting with colour, design, texture, form and function;

– Explore different artists and the techniques that they use

– Share their creations, explaining the process they have used;

– Make use of props and materials when role playing characters in narratives and stories.

Key Stage 1

Pupils are taught:

– to use a range of materials creatively to design and make products

– to use drawing, painting and sculpture to develop and share their ideas, experiences and imagination

– to develop a wide range of art and design techniques in using colour, pattern, texture, line, shape, form and space

-to learn about the work of a range of artists, craft makers and designers, describing the differences and similarities between different practices and disciplines, and making links to their own work.

Key stage 2

Pupils are taught to develop their techniques, including their control and their use of materials, with creativity, experimentation and an increasing awareness of different kinds of art, craft and design.

Pupils are taught:

– to create sketch books to record their observations and use them to review and revisit ideas

– to improve their mastery of art and design techniques, including drawing, painting and sculpture with a range of materials [for example, pencil, charcoal, paint, clay]

– to learn about great artists, architects and designers in history.

Curriculum Impact

By the end of their time with us, we want pupils to have learned, improved and embedded a range of artistic skills. They should have an awareness of a broad range of artists and craftspeople, and be able to consider and discuss the artworks they come across. We want our pupils to be confident to explore, experiment and take risks, placing value on the process and journey that they take, not just on the finished product. Most importantly, we want children to have found and enjoyed a creative outlet – a means of self-expression and enjoyment.