Art & Design
Intent, Implementation and Impact Statement
Intent
With a focus on the mastery of key skills, understanding of key vocabulary and acquiring knowledge of great artists and architects, our Art & Design curriculum has been carefully designed for the children of Ilmington C of E Primary School. We believe that Art & Design is a subject where children should be creative in a safe and nurturing environment and where self-expression is valued and encouraged. We believe in the value of Art & Design, both for those who will pursue artistic careers in the future, as well as inspiring children in their hobbies for life.
Our curriculum focusses on mastering skills in 3D form, drawing, painting, collage, textiles and printing as well as teaching the children about a wide range of artists and architects, both alive and from history, as well as from a variety of cultures and backgrounds. Our Art & Design curriculum is upheld by a strong belief in the importance of vocabulary. The children in our school learn the Art & Design vocabulary that they need in order to discuss their learning and the meaning of words is explicitly taught.
Our Art & Design curriculum:
- Enables children to master key skills and processes with a range of materials
- Provides children with a curriculum in which skills progress across year groups
- Provides opportunities for children to express their subjective opinion
- Allows children to problem-solve and review
- Places Art & design in a wider context, making it relatable
- Supports children to make connections with other subject areas
- Provides an environment where children feel safe to take risks and that their work is valued
- Provides opportunities for children to work alone and to collaborate
- Empowers children to pursue creative endeavours, should they wish to do so
Implementation
Art & Design is a vital part of our wider curriculum. Children in our school are taught key Art & Design skills through learning opportunities linked to their termly topic or current events. Great artists and architects from history and present day, and from a variety of different backgrounds and cultures, are explored with meaningful links to the Art & Design skills that the children are learning about. This ensures that the children in our school are able to see where their Art & Design learning could take them; they have examples of amazing artworks to inspire them; and they make links between Art & Design and their learning in other subjects, such as History, Geography, Science and Mathematics.
Children begin a new Art & Design topic by recapping their previous learning, which we call ‘sticky knowledge’. This ensures that the children remember what they have learned previously and understand where they are headed, ensuring that they make excellent progress. The children’s mastery of the Art & Design skills is monitored using the expectations that are outlined on our ‘Progression of Knowledge and Skills’ document. This also forms the base for our long term plans and therefore ensures full curriculum coverage across our school.
The children’s outcomes are recorded in a variety of ways. Children in Years 1 to 6 record their ideas in a sketchbook. They might produce larger pieces of artwork on paper or card, or 3D artwork through a variety of media. The children in the EYFS often work on large pieces of paper and card and their Art & Design learning is documented in their artwork folders as well as in their learning journals. Art & Design outcomes are celebrated, as well as the processes that have been undertaken to get to a final piece, as our school recognises the value of the developmental journey that the children have been on as well as the final product. Children’s artwork is shared in collective worship, on displays and on our Instagram page.
We believe that key vocabulary should be given great importance and Art & Design vocabulary is explicitly taught so that the children are equipped with the words that they need in order to discuss their learning. Each year group in our school has an Art & Design vocabulary mat that is stuck into the inside cover of the children’s sketchbooks.
Our dedication to providing a rich and exciting Art & Design curriculum is clear through our commitment to achieving the ArtsMark award for schools. ArtsMark supports schools to develop and celebrate their commitment to arts and cultural education. Our Art & Design Subject Leader is currently working towards achieving our ArtsMark award!
Staff in our school are dedicated to continually developing their own skills and knowledge in Art & Design so that they are able to provide the best lessons possible. This year, the staff at Ilmington School have received training from the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford and completed workshops at Warwick Arts Centre. We are part of the Coventry and Warwickshire Teacher Network which helps us to keep up with the latest news.
Our Art & Design curriculum provides children with opportunities to develop their mastery of key skills, their knowledge of great artists and architects and their enjoyment of a fantastically creative subject. Learning is linked to topics and current events in meaningful ways. The children in our school are encouraged to express themselves and give their opinion in a safe and nurturing environment.
Impact
- Most of our learners achieve age-related expectations in Art & Design at the end of each year.
- Learners retain previous learning and build upon it.
- Learners feel confident to experiment and be creative in Art & Design learning opportunities as well as to ask questions and suggest resolutions.
- Learners are confident to use Art & Design vocabulary that is appropriate for their year group.
- Learners recall previous Art & Design learning opportunities with a sense of enjoyment and are keen to share their work with pride.