Art and Design

Intent

At Edgware, we want children to be able to express themselves in many forms. We believe that children should see and experience different media and be inspired by artists and designers, using their work as a spring board to create their own.

Our art and design curriculum aims to inspire creativity, curiosity and a genuine love of making, giving every child the confidence to see themselves as an artist. Delivered through the AccessArt scheme, the curriculum is built around a broad, rich and diverse range of disciplines, artists and materials, allowing children to explore ideas, take creative risks and follow their own lines of enquiry alongside developing secure technical skill. In line with the National Curriculum, pupils produce creative work exploring their ideas and experiences, become proficient in drawing, painting, sculpture and other art, craft and design techniques, and learn to evaluate and analyse creative works using the language of art, craft and design. They also study a diverse range of great artists, craft makers and designers, understanding the historical and cultural development of their art forms.

Implementation

Art is taught half termly to allow children to focus on disciplines and build on these across each year.

We give children high quality models to use for inspiration as well as model different techniques that the children can then try for themselves. Art and Design are taught as subjects in their own right however, where possible, we use the skills across the curriculum.

We focus on a range of artists who are culturally diverse. Across the school we encourage children to be creative, using a range of media and techniques so that they develop skills in drawing, painting, sculpture, collage, textiles and printing. Children also develop their ideas through self-evaluation and group discussion.

We ensure that key vocabulary is taught so that children are able to explain the techniques and skills they have used, describe the art they see, talk about artists competently and the type of work they have created and the visual components they may have used: colour, form, line, shape, space, texture. Children are given vocabulary which helps them to evaluate design ideas and communicate their own designs.

Impact

At Edgware Primary, a rich art and design curriculum gives children the confidence to explore, create and express themselves, becoming proficient in drawing, painting, sculpture and other techniques. Pupils build genuine skill through regular practice while being introduced to new materials and ideas, developing their own creative pathway rather than simply following instructions. They also learn to evaluate creative works and know about a diverse range of artists, craft makers and designers, understanding how art forms have developed historically and culturally. This combination of secure technical skill, creative independence and cultural knowledge leaves Edgware pupils able to think and express themselves as artists, both in school and beyond.

For both Art and Design, we ensure:

all children have access to a broad, creative and varied art and design curriculum.
a range of exciting opportunities by stimulating the pupil’s interest in art and design, developing a variety of skills, knowledge and understanding.
we develop the children’s ability to reflect upon, respond and evaluate their own work and that of other artists.
we encourage children to produce high quality work.

We do an annual Art week week where we focus on projects linked to wellbeing. We use Place2Be projects to facilitate this. We invite parents in to work with their children on these projects together. We created good parental engagement, makes parents feel comfortable to be in school and see how children learn.

We give children lots of opportunities to express their feelings and emotions and communicate their ideas through art. Art Week- Place2Be