Intent

At St Wilfrid’s our art curriculum aims to provide a high-quality art and design education which engages, inspires and challenges pupils, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to experiment, invent and create their own works of art, craft and design.   We want to equip our children to have the skills to think critically and develop a more in-depth understanding of how art and design reflect and shape our history, contributing to the culture and creativity of our society.  We intend to give pupils every opportunity to develop their ability, nurture their talents and interests and express their thoughts and ideas about the World equipping our children with a sense of awe, wonder and curiosity about art and design, which they can extend beyond the primary classroom.

Implementation

Our curriculum follows the ‘Kapow Art’ scheme of work, which is written by experts in their field and is designed to meet the national curriculum expectation.   It is designed with five strands, which run throughout, these are: generating ideas, using sketchbooks, making skills (including line, shape, tone, texture, pattern and colour), knowledge of artists and evaluating and analysing.  Units are sequential allowing children to build their knowledge and skills with increasing complexity within a spiral curriculum, applying them to a range of outcomes across each of the four core areas: drawing, painting, sculpture and 3D and Craft and design.

Creativity and independent outcomes are embedded, with children being taught how to make their own creative choices and decisions, so that their art outcomes whilst still being knowledge-rich are unique and personal.  Lessons are designed to be practical in nature and encourage experimental and exploratory learning with pupils using sketchbooks to record their ideas, being taught in blocks to secure children’s knowledge and understanding. 

Scaffolding and support is provided to allow all pupils to access and enjoy learning with knowledge organisers used to provide a visual record of the key vocabulary and techniques learning, encouraging recall of skills, process, key facts and vocabulary.  Planning provides access to support both children and staff through access to high quality videos which model key skills and techniques allowing everyone to feel confident in the progression of skills and knowledge, ensuring high quality outcomes are achieved.

Impact

Our children will produce creative work, which is of high quality and demonstrates that they are acquiring knowledge, skills and vocabulary in an appropriate sequence; showcasing proficiency in drawing, painting, sculpture and other art, craft and design techniques.  Children are able to evaluate and analyse work using higher metacognitive skills and subject specific vocabulary, talking about their work and work of artists across history with knowledge, excitement and pride.  Pupils will confidently transfer their knowledge and skills to other areas of the curriculum to enhance their learning; be proud of their artwork and achievements, and are keen to share these with parents and visitors, celebrating the impact of our curriculum.

The effectiveness of our art curriculum will be constantly monitored though both formative and summative assessment opportunities with assessment records being kept on FFT, judged against both knowledge and skills. The subject leader will regularly review the curriculum by completing lesson observations, sketchbook looks and pupil interviews to ensure children are not only able to achieve the expectations of the national curriculum but ensure the curriculum is having a positive impact on learning.