Art and Design
Art and Design
INTENT
We aim to deliver an exciting, rich and forward-thinking visual arts education. We want every child to feel inspired, excited and enabled to explore art through a rich, exploratory learning journey that is broad, balanced, diverse and engaging. We want children to appreciate the purpose of art, not just in relation to teaching and learning, but the relevance of art in all our lives. We aim for our pupils to understand key concepts and to develop knowledge, skills and vocabulary that can be taught directly, but we want art at The Icknield to go further: to be about creative thinking and persistence, experimenting and discovery – to be experiential.
IMPLEMENTATION
We have chosen to base our art on the AccessArt Primary Curriculum which promotes open-ended creative learning where the emphasis is on the journey. As educators, we attach importance to the development of sequential substantive knowledge and skills, in line with the aims and requirements of the National Curriculum and these have been mapped against each unit in ‘TIPS Art and Design Subject Progression’. Most of the knowledge gained through the making and appreciation of art, however, is not factual, but experiential; it cannot be segmented and sequenced, and it often does not require prior knowledge (in a set order). Our curriculum has been designed around the idea that art is far more than a series of technical skills. This holistic curriculum nurtures creative thinking skills and helps ensure our children learn through art, as well as about art. Whilst end-products may be enjoyed by all, art at The Icknield – and its assessment – is as much about the process, developing behaviours such as: enjoyment of exploration; willingness to take creative risks; sharing ideas; pleasure in discovery; opening of minds; listening to others and a sense of identity.
Art units of work or ‘Pathways’ explore art, craft and design; they provide a structure for open-ended exploration and layering activities to develop skills and knowledge through engaging and purposeful experience. Drawing, sketchbooks, reflection and oracy underpin all learning journeys and creative activity. Diverse disciplines (e.g. painting, printmaking, sculpture and architecture) ensure pupils progress and remain engaged.
Pupils are introduced to contemporary, diverse artists to help show how art is relevant to all our lives. We have adopted the AccessArt ‘Split Curriculum’ which enables a comprehensive art curriculum to be delivered every other half term – alternating with Design and Technology. Units of work are organised under three strands (Drawing and Sketchbooks, Surface and Colour, and Working in 3 Dimensions) which are taught across every year. Further opportunities for drawing are provided throughout the year via exercises that develop fine motor control, hand-eye coordination and knowledge of artistic elements.
Additional opportunities for the development of enjoyment, skills, knowledge and techniques though art include: termly, whole-school projects (in observational portraiture, clay and printmaking); designing Christmas cards; entering the Cambridgeshire Art Competition; working with visiting artists, and via exciting cross-curricular trips.
IMPACT
Our art curriculum makes art more diverse, contemporary and relevant and therefore fosters appreciation of art as a valuable subject in our school. Children should gain confidence and enthusiasm as well as skills and knowledge. It is our aim that by the time every child leaves primary school, they can feel as if they have found an area of the visual arts that is relevant and engaging to them – that might be through drawing, or making, or designing, or talking about art.