Intent
At Liberty Primary School we believe that art is a vital part of children’s education and has a significant and valuable role in the taught curriculum, as well as in the enrichment opportunities we offer our pupils. We are so passionate about providing our children with a wide range of opportunities to explore and develop their artistic talents that we have included ‘Be Creative’ as one of our schools’ core values. The art curriculum at Liberty Primary aims to develop children’s critical abilities and understanding of their own and others’ cultural heritages through studying a diverse range of male and female artists. Children will develop their understanding of the visual language of art with effective teaching and considered sequences of lessons and experiences. Understanding of the visual elements of art and design (line, shape, form, tone, texture, pattern, colour and composition) will be developed by providing a curriculum which will enable children to learn to express their own feelings and emotions through art whilst considering the works of a wide variety of artists.
Implementation
At Liberty Primary School we have broken down the requirements of the National Curriculum programmes of study into more specific skills to ensure there is full coverage of a range of areas of art, these are implicitly linked to our Cornerstones topics and include drawing (pencil, pen and ink), paint, sculpture, printing, collage (paper and fabric), natural art, landscapes and human form.
The skills and knowledge that children will develop throughout each art topic are mapped across each year group and throughout the school to ensure progression. The emphasis on knowledge and the use of knowledge organisers ensure that children understand the context of the artwork, as well as the artists that they are learning about and being inspired by. This enables links to other curriculum areas, with children developing a considerable knowledge of individual artists as well as individual works and art movements. A similar focus on skills means that children are given opportunities to express their creative imagination, as well as practise and develop mastery in the key processes of art.
Coordinated whole-school project work will ensure that art is given high status in the curriculum.
The school’s high quality art curriculum is supported through the availability of a wide range of high quality resources, which are used to support children’s confidence in the use of different media. The Art/DT studio provides a space for children to work collaboratively and access required resources independently. Key vocabulary and knowledge is displayed prominently and children are encouraged to use this when reflecting, evaluating and annotating their art work and the art work of others. The studio is also a place where children’s artwork is displayed to celebrate and showcase success in this subject.
Impact
Classroom displays throughout Liberty Primary School reflect the children’s sense of pride in their artwork and this is also demonstrated by creative outcomes across the wider curriculum. The school environment celebrates children’s achievements in art and demonstrates the subject’s high status in the school. Children's progression and attainment in art is continually assessed through a variety of methods, such as providing ongoing teacher feedback throughout a lesson or project, self-assessment and peer-assessment. Sketchbooks are used by children in years 1-6.
The main aims of sketchbooks are
- To provide a record of the children’s learning in Art and Design
- To allow for creativity, planning and reflection
- To enable children to become more independent and confident artists
Discussions about a range of artistic genres and styles are used to assess children’s understanding and to allow teachers to address any misconceptions.
The impact of our themed curriculum will contribute to children’s’
- Creativity
- Independence
- Critical thinking
- Self-reflection
