Art at Summerbank

Our Curriculum Intent

Art helps to engage, inspire and challenge pupils, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to experiment, invent and create their own works of art. Our school is committed to encouraging pupils’ curiosity and creativity, allowing them to think critically and develop a thorough understanding of art and its place in the world, including how it reflects our history and contributes to the culture, creativity of our nation.

By teaching art, we aim to ensure pupils:

• Produce creative work, exploring their ideas and recording their experiences.
• Become proficient in drawing and painting, sculpture and other art techniques.
• Can evaluate and analyse creative works using the language of art.
• Know about great artists and understand the historical and cultural development of their art forms.
• Enjoy an active involvement in art.
• Have the confidence and skills to communicate their ideas through their artwork.
• Have opportunities to experience a broad and balanced range of art activities and show progression within these.
• Become visually literate and able to identify and apply the key elements of art.
• Are given equal access to the experience of art, regardless of their gender, race or disability.

Mapping of Content

We use the National Curriculum as the basis of our planning, defining the content (knowledge and skills) of what we teach.  The Art Curriculum is inclusive and provides children with the opportunity to enjoy, grow in confidence and have the freedom to express their ideas and creativity using a range of techniques developed throughout the year. Sketch books are used to practice skills that have been taught. They are constructed in Year One and follow the children throughout the school.

Timetabling

Art is taught across the year.  Long term planning shows all of the artists/art movements to be covered.  Teachers use the medium-term planning along with adaptations from the end of year milestones, to ensure children have the opportunity to develop their understanding of art.

A Bespoke Curriculum for Summerbank

To support children in knowing more and remembering more our Art Curriculum draws upon a number of our Curriculum Drivers.

Connections –The Art Curriculum intertwines with history, geography, science and music. This ensures that children have the opportunity to practice and transfer skills and knowledge both inside and outside classrooms. These are embedded in meaningful ways in order to relate and create sticky learning.

Use of Story – Children are engaged and able to use their imagination to immerse themselves fully into the curriculum where links are made to stories used in other subjects for example learning about War Art when using The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas in Y6 and also studying WW2.

Communication, Language & Vocabulary – Each year group has specific art vocabulary linked to colour, pattern, texture, line, shape, form and artist/movement that must be taught. There is reference to previous year groups vocabulary in order for the children to secure their understanding of technical art vocabulary and skills.

Knowledge of the World – Educational visits give unique opportunities to inspire and experience art in different settings and help to enhance critical thinking and develop knowledge around the subject. Children have opportunities to experience visiting local museums and have visitors in school to share learning and have hands on experiences. As members of Clay School, we have the opportunity to visit the British Ceramics Biennial Artists exhibition in our locality. Making links to professions in the arts can inspire children to realise that they could have a future career that they will both love and enjoy.