Be creative. Be proficient. Be reflective.

Intent  

Our intent is to deliver the content outlined in the Art and Design programmes of study within the national curriculum, augmented with powerful knowledge carefully selected to build upon our pupils’ starting points of cultural capital.  

To this end, we use the planning and implementation materials from the Curriculum with Unity Schools Partnership for Art and Design. This is a knowledge-engaged progress model which clearly outlines the key knowledge and vocabulary for each stage of learning in sequence, separating the content into six blocks of artistic  disciplines. It has been deliberately adapted in order for pupils to see themselves in the curriculum and prepare them for life in modern Britain.  

 

Implementation 

All areas of our curriculum are implemented using ten principles of effective instruction outlined in our Teaching Touchstones, which work in symbiosis with the Gradual Release Towards Independence model for teaching.  

In Art, we represent the view that art, craft and design embody some of the highest forms of human creativity. In our teaching, we expose the children to a wide range of art and design artists and outcomes, aiming to develop creativity and confidence through technique, experimentation and reflection. They will be using sketchbooks to experiment and reflect on their learning. Pupils will increase their awareness of a multitude of representative historic and contemporary art and design, gaining an increased understanding and awareness of how art and design both reflect and shape our history, and contribute to the culture, creativity and wealth of our nation.  

Impact 

The impact of our curriculum is directly aligned to our whole school vision and culture statements, as well as the art vision statement and the aims and purposes set out in the national curriculum.  

We say to our pupils: 

Be Curious: 

This means we want our pupils to: 

Be brave: 

• Know about and be inspired by great contemporary and historic artists, craft makers and designers. 

Be great: 

• Embrace using a range of materials creatively to design and make products, especially those that are new.

Be you: 

• Look for ways to improve their own style through trial and developing their own techniques.

 

Be Proficient: 

This means we want our pupils to: 

Be brave: 

• Trial, practice and persevere to improve their mastery of art and design techniques with a range of materials (e.g. pencil, charcoal, paint, clay, textiles) .

Be great: 

• Become increasingly proficient and confident in drawing, painting, sculpture, mixed media, textiles and printing. 

Be you: 

• Evaluate and analyse creative works using the language of art, craft and design.
• Showcase their own work to different audiences and displayed around the school. 

 

Be Reflective: 

This means we want our pupils to: 

Be brave: 

• Know about great artists, craft makers and designers, and embrace learning about styles and cultures beyond their own realm of experience.
• Think critically and develop a more rigorous understanding of art and design. 

Be great: 

• Know about the work of a range of contemporary as well as traditional artists, craft makers and designers, describing differences and similarities between practices/disciplines and making connections to their own work. 
• Understand and articulate how art is reflective of society and is therefore an expression of history as well as creativity.  

Be you: 

• Record their observations and use them to review and revisit ideas.
• Develop their own style and preferences on a range of artists, architects and movements.  

 

At St. George's, we believe that Art and Design should be taught with the same rigour and passion as all other subjects. Because of this, we implement the Curriculum with Unity Schools Partnership Art Sequences of learning. 

Of their art curriculum, CUSP say:

We have deliberately built CUSP Art and Design around the principles of evidence-led practice. This is to ensure that pupils are equipped to successfully think, work and communicate like an artist. Unapologetically ambitious, our art curriculum focuses on excellence in this subject through a myriad of media and incredible artists.

Our intention is unmissable; exceptional teacher instruction inspires pupils to acquire knowledge, as an artist, and enable them to skilfully attempt and apply their understanding.

The CUSP Art curriculum is organised into blocks with each block covering a particular set of artistic disciplines, including drawing, painting, printmaking, textiles, 3D and collage. Vertical progression in each discipline has been deliberately woven into the fabric of the curriculum so that pupils can revisit key disciplines throughout their Primary journey at increasing degrees of challenge and complexity.

In addition to the core knowledge required to be successful within each discipline, the curriculum outlines key aspects of artistic development in the Working Artistically section. Each module will focus on developing different aspects of these competencies. This will support teachers in understanding pupils’ development as artists more broadly, as well as how successfully they are acquiring the taught knowledge and skills.

To find out more about CUSP art and design, please visit their website, here. 

As written in our Art Curriculum Vision Statement, we want our pupils to be themselves and celebrate their successes. 

Around our school you will see art proudly displayed on display boards and in frames we have specially bought and placed to showcase pupil's journey with different media and also their final outcomes. 

We are currently looking at further ways to showcase our learning in art and design, both within our school community and beyond. Watch this space!

In January 2023, we finalised our application towards achieving the Artsmark.

The Artsmark is an accreditation recognising excellent practice and commitment to developing the Arts in schools. It is awarded by the Arts Council. 

We have a two-year action plan to continue to develop our excellent work in this area.