Art Lead - Sam Dykes

What is taught in Art and Design?

Children record their first hand experiences, communicating what they see, feel and think through the use of colour, texture, form, pattern.  The progression in skills we have in place ensures children become proficient in several key areas:

• Drawing
• Painting
• 3D art (including sculpture)
• Textiles
• Printmaking
• Digital & multimedia art

When are specific skills and knowledge taught?

Key stage 1 Pupils should be 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
• 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 should be 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.
• 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]
• about great artists, architects and designers in history.

How do we teach Art and Design?

A high-quality art and design education should challenge and engage all pupils, stimulating creativity and imagination.  Through exploration and experimentation, children will learn how to control different media, tools and techniques so they are able to produce creative work.

As pupils progress, they should be able to think critically, make informed judgements and develop a more rigorous understanding of art and design.  In order to understand how art and design both shape our history and contribute to our culture, children study a particular artist or art movement.  Through learning about the roles and functions of art, they can explore the impact it has had on life in different times and cultures.  The appreciation and enjoyment of the visual arts enriches all our lives.

Sketchbooks are used as a learning journey from one key stage to another so teachers can see the sketchbook itself is the piece of art.  A place where there is no uniform approach to how the work is completed where children can share their first hand experiences, practice their skills and then evaluate their work. 

Why do we teach Art and Design?

At Poppleton Road our intent is to create children who are confident, creative, resilient and reflective artists and designers.  We deliver a high-quality curriculum 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 follow the National Curriculum and ensure our long-term plans allow for clear progression across key stages in all areas of art and design.  We study a wide variety of artists across the curriculum from a range of gender, socio-economic backgrounds, nationalities and races.  To enhance the curriculum, we also look at what is going on in the world and incorporate any specific events or movements that are occurring at that time into our planning.  We want the children to learn and appreciate great artists, craft makers and designers and understand the cultural development of their art forms – including local artists.

Children are taught specific artistic skills and we believe that art is totally inclusive meaning all children can achieve and reach their full potential.  The children use sketchbooks to develop their skills and teachers also use these to provide a record of children’s learning in art.  We ensure lessons are fun and purposeful, making meaningful links to other areas of the curriculum in which children can develop their own independent style and value their own creative journey.

All children can access art, craft and design clubs and workshops provided by school staff or art specialists.  We also plan trips to galleries and museums to support children’s learning and to allow children to have the opportunity to see a range of artworks in real life.  Art is celebrated across the school with wonderful displays within classrooms and shared areas.  The children are also given the opportunity to have their work published in the form of Christmas cards, local competition and exhibitions.