Art
Intent
At Springdale, Art and Design play a key role in our curriculum. Our scheme of work aims to inspire pupils and develop their confidence to experiment and invent their own works of art. We aim to provide children with a full range of experiences through access to a range of resources, with progressive skills being taught across the school. Pupils will be given opportunity to develop their ability in art, craft and design (including experience with drawing, painting, collage, textiles, 3D designs, printmaking and digital media). These opportunities wills nurture their interests and talents, to express their ideas and thoughts about the world. They will also learn about a diverse range of artists, across lines of gender, class, culture and race, as well as artists through history.
Art and Design plays an important role in well-being for many children, allowing them to express themselves in different ways than in other lessons. For those who find art a challenge, there is a chance to build confidence through the support of a well-structured curriculum that allows teachers to take children back a step if necessary.
As part of developing their cultural capital, children will be provided with opportunities beyond art lessons, for example visiting the local art gallery, opportunities to collaborate with an artist and curating an art exhibition in school.
Implementation
At Springdale, the majority of our Art and Design teaching is delivered in every year group, once a week for the full academic year. Each year group features one topic-based art unit where learning is linked with other subjects. Putting it in this context adds meaning for the children. Also, these links are promoted to allow all children to deepen their understanding across the curriculum, including the use of technology, and artworks from year group specific historical, geographical and scientific contexts.
We have an art day every term across school which helps to promote the importance of the subject and adds to the excitement the children feel when taking part in something together. There are also a range of other collaborative opportunities where children produce work towards a whole-school project.
In all art lessons, teachers follow a clear progression of skills which ensures all pupils are challenged in line with their year group expectations and are given the opportunity to build on their prior knowledge. We have designed the curriculum carefully so that a variety of skills are developed throughout school and a full range of resources are available for teachers to use with their classes. Throughout the Springdale journey, every child is given the opportunity to learn the skills of drawing, painting, printing, sculpture and digital art through the exploration of a key artist, craft maker or designer and their work as key requirements of the National Curriculum.
There are also planned opportunities for children to learn about an important artist/designer as well as opportunities for children to visit local art galleries and museums. This is invaluable in allowing the children to see and learn a range of techniques and also be inspired by professionals. In the summer term, we exhibit work from every child across the school and pupils also play a key role as curators during this event. Parents are invited to celebrate the work which gives the children a real sense of pride in their achievements.
Every child has a sketchbook which follows through each year group, showcasing their progression of skills. 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, study artists, record ideas and develop opinions.
Each topic is accompanied by a knowledge organiser which allows children to refer back to key vocabulary when needed throughout their unit of work.
They also give children an insight towards what each module will be about. In the development of confident art critics, the pupils share their opinions and make informed observations about what will improve their own practical work. To support teaching, staff access a range of resources and planning.
Targets are used in sketchbooks by both pupils and staff as a form of assessment and are reviewed to inform future practice.
Impact
The impact of this curriculum design will lead to outstanding progress over time across key stages relative to a child’s individual starting point and their progression of skills. Children will therefore be expected to leave Springdale reaching at least age-related expectations for Art and Design. Our Art and Design curriculum will also lead pupils to be enthusiastic Art and Design learners, evidenced in a range of ways, including pupil voice, their final pieces and sketchbooks. We ensure that children who are achieving well, as well as those who need additional support, are identified, and additional provision and strategies are planned in and discussed with class teachers. Achievements are celebrated in classrooms during walking-galleries and corridor displays. We aim to develop our future artists and their appreciation of the art around them.
