Art and Design

Intent

At St. Gerard’s Catholic Primary School, our Art and Design curriculum is designed to inspire creativity, curiosity and self-expression. We aim to provide all pupils with opportunities to develop their artistic knowledge, skills and understanding while fostering the confidence to experiment, take creative risks and produce original and meaningful artwork.

Rooted in our Catholic ethos and the principles of Catholic Social Teaching, our curriculum encourages pupils to recognise the dignity, uniqueness and creativity of every individual. Through artistic expression and the exploration of diverse cultures, traditions and communities, children develop respect, empathy and an appreciation of the world God created and the people within it.

Our curriculum is ambitious, inclusive and carefully sequenced to ensure that pupils progressively develop technical skills, creativity and critical thinking throughout their time at school. Through exposure to a diverse range of artists, craftspeople, designers and artistic traditions, pupils develop an appreciation of the rich cultural heritage of the British Isles and the wider world.

We aim for children to:

• develop proficiency in drawing, painting, sculpture and other art, craft and design techniques;

• use sketchbooks purposefully to generate, develop and refine ideas;

• explore and apply the formal elements of art, including colour, line, shape, form, texture, pattern and tone;

• evaluate and reflect on their own work and the work of others using subject-specific vocabulary;

• understand how art and design both reflect and shape history, culture and creativity;

• develop resilience, independence and confidence when expressing ideas visually;

• appreciate and engage with the work of significant artists, designers and craft makers from different times and cultures.

Through high-quality art experiences, pupils are encouraged to express their individuality, develop their imagination and make meaningful connections between art, the wider curriculum and the world around them. Our curriculum also supports the development of children’s cultural capital by broadening their experiences and encouraging an appreciation of creativity in all its forms.

Implementation

At St. Gerard’s Catholic Primary School, Art and Design is taught through the Kapow Primary scheme of work, which is carefully structured to ensure progression in knowledge, skills and vocabulary across all year groups. The curriculum is fully aligned with the National Curriculum and supports pupils in achieving the end-of-key-stage expectations through a coherent and progressive sequence of learning.

The curriculum is organised through key strands:

• generating ideas and using sketchbooks;

• drawing, painting, sculpture and mixed media;

• craft and design techniques;

• formal elements including colour, line, shape, form, texture, pattern and tone;

• evaluating and analysing artwork.

Pupils are taught to develop and refine artistic techniques through explicit teaching, modelling and regular opportunities for independent application. Core skills are revisited throughout the curriculum using a spiral approach, enabling children to build upon prior learning, strengthen retention and develop increasing confidence and sophistication in their artistic outcomes.

Lessons are sequenced in small, progressive steps and provide opportunities for pupils to:

• explore and experiment with a range of media and materials;

• study and respond to the work of significant artists, designers and craft makers;

• record observations and ideas using sketchbooks;

• develop technical control and artistic decision-making;

• reflect upon and evaluate creative outcomes using appropriate artistic vocabulary.

Creativity and individuality are central to our curriculum. While pupils develop substantial subject knowledge and technical understanding, they are also encouraged to make independent creative choices so that outcomes remain personal, imaginative and unique.

Teaching is adapted to ensure that all pupils can access and achieve within the curriculum. Differentiated support, scaffolding and challenge opportunities enable all learners to succeed and deepen their understanding where appropriate.

‘Sticky Knowledge’ organisers are used to support pupils in retaining key facts, vocabulary and concepts. Retrieval practice and regular revisiting of prior learning help pupils embed knowledge into long-term memory and make meaningful connections across units of work.

Art and Design is enriched through cross-curricular links and opportunities to explore art within historical, cultural and contemporary contexts, further developing pupils’ cultural capital and understanding of the wider world. Links to Catholic Social Teaching are woven throughout the curriculum, encouraging pupils to reflect on themes such as dignity, community, stewardship, social justice and the celebration of diversity through art.

Impact

The impact of our Art and Design curriculum is that pupils develop as confident, creative and reflective artists who are able to express ideas, emotions and experiences through a range of artistic media and techniques.

Through carefully sequenced learning and regular opportunities for practice and reflection, pupils:

• develop secure knowledge and understanding of artistic techniques, processes and vocabulary;

• demonstrate increasing proficiency in drawing, painting, sculpture and other creative disciplines;

• use sketchbooks effectively to generate, refine and communicate ideas;

• evaluate and analyse their own work and the work of others with confidence and increasing sophistication;

• understand the significance of artists, designers and artistic movements from different cultures and periods of history;

• show creativity, resilience and independence when exploring and developing artistic outcomes;

• develop respect and appreciation for different cultures, perspectives and communities through artistic study and discussion.

Pupils are able to talk confidently about their learning in Art and Design, using appropriate subject-specific vocabulary and making connections between artistic styles, techniques and cultural influences. Their work demonstrates progression in both technical skill and creative thinking over time.

The impact of the curriculum is measured through:

• ongoing formative assessment during lessons;

• sketchbook development and final outcomes;

• pupil discussions and evaluation of learning;

• retrieval practice and recall of key knowledge and vocabulary;

• assessment against end-of-key-stage expectations;

• the quality, creativity and progression evident in pupils’ work.

As a result, pupils leave St. Gerard’s with a strong appreciation of art and creativity, alongside the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to continue their artistic journey in the next stage of education and beyond.