Intent, Implementation, Impact

Intent

At Ethelbert Road Primary School, we aim to provide and Art curriculum that builds on a child's early creative experiences whilst enabling them to express themselves in a practical and inspiring way. Through learning about a wide range of Art and Crafts from a wide range of cultures, we hope to not only develop the children's passion and love of the subject, but also build a respect, natural inquisitiveness and an appreciation of Art and Design in all its forms which they may carry with them throughout their lives. 

Art stimulates imagination and creativity. We provide a wealth of visual, tactile and sensory experiences, which enable children to communicate what they see, think and feel in a range of ways, regardless of their ability. Through learning about the roles and functions of Art and thinking critically, children can explore the impact it has had on contemporary life and on different periods of time. They will also know how Art and Design both reflect and shape our history and our future, contributing to the culture, diversity, creativity and wealth of our nation.

At Ethelbert Road Primary School, we aim to provide an Art and Design Curriculum which develops learning and results in pupils knowing more, remembering more and understanding how the knowledge and skills can be applied in their own art work. 

Aims

The National Curriculum for Art and Design aims to ensure that all pupils:

1. Produce creative work, exploring their ideas and recording their experiences.

2. Become proficient in drawing, painting, sculpture and other art, craft and design techniques.

3. Evaluate and analyse creative works using the language of Art, Craft and Design

4. Know about great artists, craft makers and designers, and understand the historical and cultural development of their art forms.

Implementation

The teaching and implementation of the Art and Design Curriculum at Ethelbert Road Primary School is based on the National Curriculum and linked to topics, where possible, to ensure a well-structured approach to this creative subject. We use the knowledge and skill progression steps from Focus Education to ensure skills and knowledge are progressive and allows children to build on their experiences year on year. The children are constantly exposed to a wide and diverse range of art forms and artists. This includes, painting portraits of Florence Nightingale and Mary Seacole, printing wallpaper inspired by William Morris, making a desert habitat for a clay lizard in a shoebox, creating a papier mache head of Medusa and exploring the art of emotion using the works of war artist Henry Moore, to name just a few. The work of famous local, national and international artists are explored to develop the children's learning. Children's knowledge and experiences are enriched by visits to our local areas, galleries and natural settings for inspiration. The children's learning is further enhanced with large hall displays where the children have the opportunity for collaborative working and can take pride in contributing to whole school Art projects.

Early Years Foundation Stage pupils explore and use a variety of media and materials through a combination of child initiated and adult directed activities. They have opportunities to learn to:

• Explore the textures, movement, feel and look of different media and materials
• Respond to a range of media and materials, develop their understanding of them in order to manipulate and create different effects.
• Use different media and materials to express their own ideas.
• Explore colour and use for a particular purpose.
• Develop skills to use simple tools and techniques competently and appropriately.
• Select appropriate media and techniques and adapt their work where necessary.

Key stage 1 Pupils are taught:

1. To use a range of materials creatively to design and make products.

2. To use drawing, painting and sculpture to develop and share their ideas, experiences and imagination.

3. To develop a wide range of art and design techniques in using colour, pattern, texture, line, shape, form and space.

4. 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 are 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. Pupils are taught:

1. To create sketch books to record their observations and use them to review and revisit ideas.

2. 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].

3. About great artists, architects and designers in history.

Impact

In Art and Design we value the process as much as, or sometimes more than, the final outcome. We encourage our pupils to think and talk like an artist, encourage them to have a go, and to be proud and pleased with their efforts. Art is used as an opportunity to put into practice our school values and to promote positive well-being. Throughout lessons children are given in the moment feedback and opportunities to improve their work. Our strong emphasis on self-reflection and peer assessment progresses as children move through the Key Stages. By the time children leave Ethelbert Road, we want them to have developed a passion for Art and creativity, working both independently and collaboratively. They will have grown in confidence when using a range of tools and techniques, becoming artists that can apply the skills and knowledge that they have developed throughout there years with us and respond critically to their own and other's work. 

At Ethelbert Road, we always look for opportunities to showcase pupils’ work and to exhibit their final pieces. Children keep Art Books in Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 where progression in skills can clearly be observed. These books have strong cross curricular links and demonstrate the range of opportunities our pupils have to practice, revisit and develop their skills in the build up to their final pieces. Art leaders also keep floor books to record outcomes.