Art and Design - Subject Leader: Mrs Candice Kilbane
Art can be a valuable outlet for the expression of feelings and ideas. At Cold Ash St Mark’s, we provide children with the opportunities to explore the world of art through:
- experimentation with materials-
- exposure to the work of many different artists-
- projects which allow the children the freedom to create their own artistic responses.
From the first marks made in EYFS to the more technical works created in Year 6, every child’s artistic endeavours are valued and their skills are built upon throughout their time at the school, whilst still allowing each child’s individual creativity to flourish. Drawing, painting and sculpture underpin the various skills that children are taught, but the core message that creativity knows no bounds is embedded into our art teaching such that children can explore, challenge and create their own artistic styles. We are all artists, no matter how precisely we can draw!
Curriculum Overview
Art is taught through a set of units that have been planned to complement learning in other areas of the curriculum. All art units follow the principles of generating ideas, making, evaluating and acquiring technical skills and knowledge, which build on previous learning, to develop every child as a confident artist.
Generate ideas- pupils are supported in the generation and development of their own ideas through a wide range of starting points. These starting points could come from any topic or curriculum subject, or they could be focussed on an artist, craftsperson, designer, creative movement or technique.
Children are encouraged to analyse, investigate and experiment to develop their creative responses. Sketchbooks form a vital part of this process and are used by the children from Year 1 upwards to collate and record their own creative exploration.
At this stage, children will learn and practise different artistic processes and techniques which build on previous learning.
Make- children are supported to make their own artwork and to use materials and techniques purposefully. They are given opportunities to work in a range of scales, in 2 and 3 dimensions and in virtual and time-based media.
The range of media children may work in could include drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, ceramics, collage, digital media, photography, installation, design, crafts
Evaluate- children are supported to review and discuss their own work and the work of others, developing the use of technical vocabulary. They are supported to develop their visual literacy through exploring how ideas are communicated through art and how we might interpret what we see. These activities enable children to understand and improve their own work.
Acquire knowledge- children will build their artistic skills as they progress through the school, such that each art project will be enriched by everything they have learned beforehand. Knowledge of the lives and works of great artists, craftspeople and designers will deepen every child’s artistic grounding as well as offering a broad range of human creativity, perspectives and experience.
Progression of Knowledge, Skills and Vocabulary
Progression is built into our scheme of work.
Assessment
Teachers assess children's ability through the year within 4 main categories:
- designing
- making
- evaluating
- knowledge
Impact
By the time children leave our school, they will:
- have an understanding of art as a means of exploration, expression and communication
- be confident, joyous creators, regardless of perceived ‘artistic talent’, who are resilient and see the opportunities created by exploration and ‘mistakes’
- have begun to develop their own artistic styles and sensibilities
- have an appreciation of the work of different artists, craftspeople and designers, and respect for the creative endeavours of others
- be confident to use a broad range of technical vocabulary and artistic techniques, and equally confident to challenge these and develop their own ways of creating art
- have developed their own sketchbook practice as a means of collecting thoughts and ideas, trying things out and discovering through exploration- a creative conversation with oneself
