St Amand's Catholic Primary School

Art and Design at St. Amand's

Art is a spiritual encounter exposing the learner to a profound level of communication and expression which transcends the spoken word, it offers the artist and the observer the opportunity to transcend the here and now. Through artistic expression the learner is enabled to comment on profound social issues and spiritual experiences offering a window into God's divine creation. Art, incorporating a wide variety of craft and design embodies some of the highest forms of human creativity.

How is the Art Curriculum delivered? (Implementation)

• Art is taught across each year group, from EYFS to Year 6 and is a foundation subject that is generally taught in terms two, four and six to accommodate D.T. being taught in terms one, three and five. However, terms may be swapped to fit topics and to suit the needs of the children.
• The Art curriculum is delivered in small steps within a unit where knowledge and skills are continuously revisited and built upon as children progress through school.
• There is coverage of knowledge of generic art skills, drawing and sketching, painting, printing, collage and 3D sculpture. Knowledge is revisited throughout phases and built upon and developed throughout school.
• Planning is developed by class teachers from the two-year cycle long term plan, where relevant Art units are laid out. There is a clear progression of knowledge that each teacher follows.
• All Art lessons have the opportunity for children to be challenged through exploration of the medium. TA and Teachers support can further develop the children’s thinking and learning. Children are provided with opportunities to lead their learning in their final pieces and autonomy as to how to present a piece of work.
• Where possible, cross-curricular links are made with English, History and Geography.
• First-hand experiences are crucial to the Art lesson with the emphasis on learning modelling and experimentation.
• Work is recorded from Years 1-6 in Sketch books and EYFS through their journals. A variety of work will be evident: sketches, samples of art medium, initial ideas, final pieces, photographs, images of interest, annotations work of artists and some brief art history.
• Children are taught a wide range of skills including: asking questions, making observations and taking measurements; engaging image work; recording and presenting final pieces of art answering questions and developing opinions and raising further questions.
• Through the course of the year, children are introduced to a range of significant historical and modern-day artists. These artists are from a variety of different ethnicities and genders and artistic backgrounds.
• Art as in all subjects starts in our wonderful EYFS and is explored through the themes of Physical Development and Expressive Arts and Design.

What difference is the Art Curriculum making? (Impact)

• Underlying our approach to Art is the belief that children should understand that all children should be given the opportunity to express themselves creatively and there is no right or wrong art.
• Art helps to build children's understanding of society because Art influences society by changing opinions, instilling values and translating experiences across space and time. Art in this sense is communication; it allows people from different cultures and different times to communicate with each other via images and its narrative. Art is often used as a vehicle to express social change and therefore real-life and historical interpretations can be explored.
• We believe that pupils leave St. Amand’s equipped to express their informed opinions in the form of a critical friend. This is achieved by adopting a modelling and experimental approach to art with a strong focus on oracy.  We provide the pupils with opportunities to interpret art works and question thoughts and feelings around them.
• From their different starting points, all children will make at least good progress and achieve their potential academically, emotionally, creatively, and socially. Knowledge, understanding and skills will be secured and embedded so that children attain progress.
• Pupils will have good communication skills and will listen respectfully and with tolerance to the views of others using evidence to support or refute ideas or arguments.
• Pupils will take pride in all that they do, always striving to do their best.
• Pupils will be able to explore their own artwork, respectfully sharing their own thoughts and opinions whilst understanding that they may differ from others.
• Pupils will demonstrate emotional resilience and the ability to persevere when they encounter challenge.
• Pupils will develop a sense of self-awareness and become confident in their own abilities.
• Teachers plan, ensuring that children are accessing work at age related expectations, with regular opportunities to be challenged through higher-level questioning.
• Pupils will competently use and know the meaning of agreed vocabulary correctly when discussing art.
• Children are assessed according to age related expectations in line with curriculum requirements. This is done in line with the school assessment calendar.

Land and City Scapes

During the Autumn Term in Owls Class, they learnt about the artists Claude Monet and Vincent Van Gogh and the painting techniques they used to create landscapes and cityscapes. The children used these techniques to create their own landscape paintings.