Art

INTENT 

 At All Saints we teach Art with the aim to engage, inspire and challenge our pupils creatively by providing visual, tactile and sensory experiences and a unique way of understanding and responding to the world. Our Art curriculum is designed to allow our children to create, to explore ideas and to record their experiences, whilst equipping them with the knowledge and skills to experiment thoughtfully, be inventive and create quality artwork.

Our curriculum is designed by our teachers, and is sequenced to ensure progression in knowledge and to develop proficiency in the skills of drawing, painting, sculpting and other crafting techniques including printing, textiles and digital art. It is our intent that pupils will become aware of, take inspiration from, and be able to appreciate artwork from a variety of artists, craft-makers, and designers throughout history, across different cultures and within their community. We want to help our children think critically, to understand processes of art and design, and to develop the ‘language of art’ to enable them to discus, evaluate and analyse creative works.  

IMPLEMENTATION 

We follow the ‘Kapow Primary Art & Design’ scheme, which is structured to provide a coherent and comprehensive art education. The scheme ensures a balanced coverage of key artistic skills and concepts, delivered through engaging and well-resourced lessons. Pupils develop knowledge and skills through: generating ideas and using sketchbooks, discovering and taking inspiration from a range of artists, craft-makers and designers from varying cultures and backgrounds, developing drawing, painting, printmaking, photography, mixed media, craft techniques and sculpture skills, exploring colour, form, line, pattern, shape, texture and tone through the making of images and objects and critiquing their own work and that of others.

All children are given opportunity to participate in creative activity where they can experiment artistically in a ‘safe’ environment, where there is no ‘right way’ of achieving, enabling them to ‘build their learning powers’, enhance self-esteem and develop a ‘can do’ attitude toward making Art. 

In the Early Years, the areas of learning entitled ‘creating with materials’ and ‘being imaginative and expressive,’ provide the foundations for the delivery of our Art provision. Our Early Years Practitioners support learning through demonstration, vocabulary rich discussion and enabling play environments.

Our Art curriculum for Key stage 1 and 2, guided by the Kapow scheme, covers the skills & knowledge set out in the National Curriculum. Our lessons offer the chance for children to develop their emotional expression through art to further enhance their personal, social and emotional development. Opportunities to explore excellence and celebrate success are built into the curriculum provision. For example, creating a ‘Classroom Art Gallery’ which parents are invited to visit. Educational visits to museums, galleries and other places where art is on display, such as parks or shops, gives our pupils insight into how the skills learnt in art can be implemented in real life.

Art projects aim to work cohesively with individual year group’s half termly themes, so that learning in art compliments learning in history, geography, science and literacy. This ensures projects feel meaningful and have context within the wider curriculum. Art is taught for three half terms each year, alternating with D&T. Over a half-term, a sequence of lessons builds on pupils existing artistic skills and knowledge, introduces them to new ideas and techniques, and allows time for them to explore, experiment, and practise in their sketchbooks. As they practice, refine and master skills, pupils are encouraged to take inspiration from artists and craft-makers and to combine their own ideas to develop a personal style. As they work toward creating a final piece of artwork pupils develop confidence and a feeling of achievement in their artistic abilities. Evaluating and reflecting on artwork at the end of a project develops a sense of appreciation for their own work and that of their peers and other artists.

Regular whole school art projects, which are displayed in the school hall, are planned by the Art Lead to help pupils apply skills learnt in their lessons and to create a sense of community through art, as pupils across the school contribute to a piece of artwork for a communal large-scale display.

IMPACT 

Our approach to Art at All Saints ensures our children find enjoyment in art through participation in a variety of meaningful cross-curricular art projects. As a result, pupils reach the end of year six equipped with a range of artistic skills which they can use to create work across a variety of creative disciplines and art forms. They acquire a working knowledge of these skills and become proficient in choosing, using and applying them to express themselves for their enjoyment, their well-being or to fulfil a brief – ensuring they are ready for art in high school, and to draw on art activities as a resource to support their own well-being outside of school. Our pupils will use artistic vocabulary in conversation to discuss and evaluate their own artwork and to understand and engage in conversations about works of art for pleasure, educational or future work purposes. By sharing the work of great artists, craft-makers and designers, our curriculum conveys how art reflects and shapes our history and culture. Children’s own artwork on display around the school showcases our pupils’ developing artistic talents at all abilities, and demonstrates how art is a vital subject in its use to communicate ideas feelings and meanings visually; at school and in the wider world beyond. 

PARENTS 

Art is an enjoyable activity which is easy to do at home. Here are a few suggestions to get you started. Save some of your recycling and old magazines to use for model making and cutting pictures from. Create a ‘bits and pieces’ box containing bits of wrapping paper, ribbons, greetings cards, sweet wrappers, bottle tops – anything which could make fun and exciting art. Have some art materials available such as colouring pencils, paint brushes and a water-colour paint pallet. Keep these materials easily accessible in the home so that children can practice their artistic skills regularly - Art can also be a great distraction and mood booster! Be observant when out and about, encourage children to notice buildings, street art, advertisements and landscapes around them. Develop an ‘I can try…’ instead of an ‘I can’t draw’ attitude to creating artwork, and make time to enjoy creating some art with your child, either alongside them or in collaboration. Make a space at home to proudly display the family’s artwork. 

We are lucky to have many local artists in the Carshalton area, some of whom open their homes and studios for the CAOS (Carshalton Artists Open Studios) trail in the summer. This is a wonderful walking trail for families to enjoy, look out for trail maps in local libraries and shops. London is also considerably rich in galleries and museums to be visited, from the National Portrait Gallery, the Tate Galleries or Dulwich picture gallery, along with many smaller temporary exhibitions held throughout the year. When you visit, have some fun whilst looking at the art, play ‘I Spy’ or tell your own stories about the pictures you see.