We are Artists!
"Creativity takes courage"
Henri Matisse
Intent
At St Augustine’s RC Primary School, Art and Design is valued as an essential part of every child's entitlement to a broad, balanced and enriched curriculum. We believe that art plays a significant role in the development of the whole child, providing opportunities for creativity, exploration, communication and self-expression.
Through Art and Design, pupils are encouraged to develop their imagination, confidence and individuality while exploring a wide range of materials, techniques and artistic processes. Children learn that art is a powerful way to communicate ideas, emotions and experiences, whilst also gaining an appreciation of the diverse cultures, traditions and historical influences that have shaped the world around them.
We recognise Art and Design as a subject that supports learning across the curriculum. The skills of observation, creativity, resilience, problem-solving and evaluation are transferable and enhance learning in many other subject areas.
Our aim is to ensure that pupils become:
- Creative and reflective artists who confidently express their own ideas and opinions.
- Skilled practitioners who can apply a range of techniques across drawing, painting, sculpture, printing and mixed media.
- Knowledgeable about significant artists, designers and craftspeople from different cultures, periods and artistic movements.
- Resilient learners who embrace challenge, experiment with confidence and learn from the creative process.
- Effective evaluators who can discuss and improve their own work and the work of others.
- Aspirational learners who understand how creativity can lead to a wide range of future opportunities and careers.
Our Art and Design curriculum is progressive, ambitious and inclusive, building upon prior learning and enabling all pupils to thrive as young artists.
Implementation
As a school within the Bishop Hogarth Catholic Education Trust, we deliver a carefully sequenced Art and Design curriculum developed by subject specialists with expertise in Art and Design education.
This ensures that:
- Skills progression is clearly mapped from Early Years through to the end of Key Stage 3.
- Learning builds systematically and cumulatively over time.
- Key knowledge, vocabulary and techniques are revisited and developed.
- Clear end points for learning are identified at each stage.
Our skills progression fully covers:
- The Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage.
- The National Curriculum for Key Stages 1 and 2.
- Trust-wide progression into Key Stage 3.
Skills Progression Strands
The curriculum is organised into five key strands to ensure breadth, depth and progression:
- Artists and Artwork
- Drawing
- Painting
- Sculpture and Collage
- Printing
Artists, Artwork and Career Links
The study of artists and artwork underpins all learning in Art and Design. Pupils explore the work of local, national and international artists, developing an understanding of how art has influenced cultures and societies throughout history.
Each unit includes opportunities for pupils to:
- Investigate the styles and techniques of significant artists.
- Explore how artists communicate ideas and messages through their work.
- Make comparisons between artists, movements and periods.
- Use artists' work as inspiration for their own creative outcomes.
Learning is further enriched through the exploration of careers within the creative industries.
Examples include:
- Illustrators
- Graphic Designers
- Architects
- Fashion Designers
- Sculptors
- Digital Artists
- Animators
- Museum and Gallery Curators
This approach broadens aspirations, develops cultural capital and helps pupils understand the real-world application of artistic knowledge and skills.
Developing Knowledge and Skills
Knowledge and understanding of the formal elements of art, including line, shape, colour, tone, texture, form and pattern, are woven throughout the curriculum. These concepts are revisited regularly to strengthen understanding and ensure progression.
Each strand includes:
- Explicit teaching of practical artistic skills.
- Opportunities to study and evaluate artists and artwork.
- Carefully planned vocabulary progression.
- Creative opportunities for experimentation and personal expression.
Children typically progress through a creative process where they:
- Observe and analyse artwork.
- Learn and practise new techniques.
- Experiment with materials and media.
- Create their own artistic outcomes.
- Reflect upon and evaluate their work to identify successes and areas for development.
Subject-specific vocabulary is taught explicitly, enabling pupils to discuss artistic processes and outcomes with confidence and accuracy.
Art and Design may be delivered through:
- A skills-based approach.
- A topic-based approach.
- A blended approach which creates meaningful links across the wider curriculum whilst maintaining the integrity of Art as a distinct subject.
EYFS
In the Early Years Foundation Stage, Art and Design is taught primarily through the Expressive Arts and Design area of learning.
Children are provided with rich opportunities to explore, create, design, draw, paint and construct using a wide variety of materials and resources. A balance of adult-directed and child-initiated learning encourages curiosity, experimentation and creativity, enabling children to develop independence and confidence from an early age.
The learning environment is carefully designed to promote exploration and discovery, laying strong foundations for future artistic development.
Assessment is ongoing throughout the year and is used to inform future learning. Children's artwork is celebrated through displays, sketchbooks and portfolios, showcasing both achievement and progression over time.
Impact
By the time pupils leave St Augustine’s, they will have:
- Developed a broad range of artistic skills across drawing, painting, sculpture, printing and mixed media.
- Acquired a secure understanding of significant artists, designers and artistic movements.
- Built confidence in expressing ideas, thoughts and emotions creatively.
- Demonstrated resilience through experimentation, reflection and refinement.
- Developed the ability to discuss, analyse and evaluate artwork using appropriate artistic vocabulary.
- Gained an appreciation of art from different cultures, traditions and historical periods.
- Developed an awareness of creative careers and future pathways.
- Established a strong foundation of knowledge and skills for further study in Key Stage 3.
Pupils will be able to articulate their ideas visually and verbally, applying artistic techniques with increasing independence and confidence. They will understand how creativity contributes to society and recognise the value of art as a means of communication, expression and cultural understanding.
Children leave St Augustine’s as creative, reflective and confident young artists who are well prepared to continue their artistic journey and contribute positively to the wider world.