Art and Design
Intent
At South Avenue Primary School, we believe the Art and Design are a vital and integral part of children’s education and it encompasses the highest forms of expression and creativity.
We have designed our Art and Design curriculum with the intent that each child becomes an ambitious, encouraging and resilient person who has a passion for learning and achieving. The curriculum is designed to: fulfil the National Curriculum, provide a broad and balanced curriculum which ensures the progressive development of skills and knowledge in the Art and Design. This is achieved by recognising the children’s prior learning, allow the children to express their individual creativity through observing, recording and performing first-hand experiences and from imagination, whilst developing competency in controlling a variety of materials, tools (instruments) and their own bodies, develop self-reflection skills, build resilience and become creative, critical thinkers in a meaningful way. Additionally, we believe it enables pupils to develop curiosity and a natural wonder of the world around them, therefore linking strongly with our school values and to develop life-long skills such as; experimenting and exploring, practicing, perseverance, resilience and evaluating whilst gaining a sense of pride. The focus is in developing proficiency in various techniques and processes, and to develop an awareness of the visual, auditory, physical and tactile elements whilst fostering enjoyment and appreciation of the visual arts and significant artists across the Art and Design.
Every child is recognised as a unique individual and we celebrate and welcome these similarities or differences. There is no right or wrong in the Arts, but an opportunity for children to express themselves in a variety of ways without limitations. Children’s demonstrations of the Art and Design are valued, discussed and displayed both in school and the wider community. We believe that all children are creative and that it is essential to foster this to become expressive, cohesive and successful adults to take opportunities to extend their horizons in their futures.
Implement
At South Avenue, these aims are embedded across the whole school through a progressive curriculum which ensures a high-standard of teaching and learning in Art and Design are implemented. Art and Design are taught as part of termly topics, focusing on knowledge and skills stated in the National Curriculum. We ensure that Art and Design enable all children to gain ‘real-life’ experiences across the curriculum, where cross-curricular links can be made, guided by the children’s interests and variety of teaching approaches based on the teacher’s judgement. Pupils present their ideas, explorations and pieces within sketch books, on display boards putting on class assemblies and end of year performances to celebrate the talented pupils we have at South Avenue.
We feel it is vital to take the views of the children and staff and improve the way the Art and Design is taught across South Avenue, so pupil voice and staff questionnaires are used to develop how the Art and Design is taught. We value these and use them to identify points of focus for staff CPD training to improve practice.
We provide a variety of opportunities for learning within Art and Design to take place inside and outside of the classroom. Educational visits also include elements of Art and Design, and teachers plan these for pupils to experience to further develop knowledge and understanding gained within the classroom.
We develop our relationships and provide opportunities for input from Fulston Manor and use their facilities, equipment and some staff have provided in house training.
Alongside our curriculum provision, we also provide all pupils with the opportunity to participate in after school clubs that include elements of Art and Design. Pupils are consulted termly about which clubs they would like to be offered.
Impact
At South Avenue, our children develop skills, techniques and knowledge of a variety of artists within numerous fields, how to use and apply various techniques and become a creative thinker throughout our curriculum, by using cross-curricular links.
Throughout their time with us, our children learn vital skills, knowledge, and understanding by continuously develop their creative thinking which is continuously changing, then developing to apply within their own creative applications. Children explore this through their sketch books, enrichment opportunities, displays, performances, class assemblies and many more ways. Our Art and Design curriculum uses well-chosen topics to enhance the children’s learning and enables our children to apply their creative across the curriculum.
Our children learn to become critical thinkers and applicators by continually reviewing themselves and others works. This becomes a continual cycle to enhance key skills and knowledge for our children to reach their full creative potential. Our curriculum supports our children to develop their values in line with our school values of; thinking creatively, working collaboratively, showing commitment and courage when challenging ourselves whilst learning about our local and global community.
