Art and Design

Intent

Here at Park, our Art and Design curriculum enables our children to develop the artistic expertise they need in the world that they live in so that they can flourish and reach their potential. Our children are given every opportunity to build their knowledge (Cultural Capital) and skills (Threshold Concepts) in Art and Design to enable them to be successful citizens in our ever-changing world; they are encouraged to develop their abilities in all areas of the Art and Design Curriculum to empower them in their future lives.

Our approach to Art and Design is ambitious and progressive for all learners and aims to develop children’s confidence in their own abilities and independence in their thinking, helping them become successful developing artists, eager to learn more and build a love for the subject. We aim to offer rich and vibrant opportunities within the Art and Design curriculum which draw upon meaningful real-life experiences. In addition, through applying Art and Design in all areas of our curriculum, children will understand the wide application of their artistic skills alongside the focus on our curriculum drivers, and what an important role this subject has to play in their overall learning journey.

The school uses a variety of teaching and learning styles in art and design lessons. Our principal aim is to develop the children's knowledge, skills and understanding. Art provides visual, tactile and sensory experiences, and a special way of understanding and responding to the world. It enables children to communicate what they see, feel and think, through the use of colour, texture, form, pattern and different materials and processes. Children become involved in shaping their environments through art and design activities. They learn to make informed judgements, and aesthetic and practical decisions. They explore ideas and meanings through the work of artists and designers. Through learning about the roles and functions of art, they can explore the impact it has had on contemporary life and on

different periods and cultures.

The appreciation and enjoyment of the visual arts enrich all our lives.

Implementation

Our long term Art and Design plan covers the national curriculum objectives thoroughly, ensuring that each year group builds on the previous experience of their learners so there is clear progression. Progress is also ensured through the continuous use and up levelling of the threshold concepts as the children progress through their year and the key stage.

The Threshold Concepts in Art and Design are:

•             Developing ideas

This concept involves understanding how ideas develop through an artistic process.

•             Mastering techniques

This concept involves developing a skill set so that ideas may be communicated.

•             Taking inspiration from the greats

This concept involves learning from both the artistic process and techniques of great artists and artisans throughout history.

Art and design is a foundation subject in the National Curriculum. At Park Junior, we use the national scheme of work and subscribe to Kapow to support us with the basis for our curriculum planning in art and design whilst linking the subject into areas that allows personal creativity and growth. We plan the activities in art and design so that they build on the children's prior learning. While we give children of all abilities the opportunity to develop their skills, knowledge and understanding, we also plan progression into the scheme of work, so that there is an increasing challenge for the children as they move up through the school. The use of art is also enhanced in our school environment, through the use of our outdoor areas and termly changing display boards. Contribution of art and design to teaching in other curriculum areas is also shown. We try to link the learning, skills and application of Art into a diversity of subjects through our creative curriculum.  However, the application of skills within Art and Design can be taught as standalone units.

Impact

We believe it is important to assess during lessons to determine next steps with every individual and the class as a whole. Planning is expected to be adjusted in line with AFL and it is the children’s learning which informs the planning. The use of teaching assistants with a planned group or individuals is encouraged to scaffold learning or to challenge children’s thinking; they are important to support all children’s learning.

Every child is encouraged to reach their potential through careful differentiation. Supported children are given more opportunity to embed the skills and thinking, whilst the greater depth children are encouraged to think, create and apply their skills at a more complex level requiring justification and explanation if needed.

The impact of this will see the child independently take action to try and refine technical and craft skills to improve mastery of materials and techniques. Confidently follow intuition and instinct during the making process, making intelligent and confident creative choices.

Independently select and effectively use relevant processes in order to create successful and finished work.

Feel safe enough to take creative risks, enjoying the journey.