Art is an opportunity for children to express themselves through visual communication. At St Francis we aim to provide the children with a variety of artistic experiences through the use of a range of different mediums. Working with materials such as clay, paint, charcoal, pastel and pencil children develop their skills in an increasingly challenging context. Our aim is to encourage our students to enjoy their work and develop their creativity and critical awareness through constructive consideration of their own and other artists’ work.
At St Francis, we value Art and Design as an important part of the children’s entitlement to a broad and balanced curriculum. Art and Design provides the children with the opportunities to develop and extend skills and an opportunity to express their individual interests, thoughts and ideas so that children can reach and exceed their potential at St Francis RC Primary School and beyond.
A high quality Art and Design Education should engage, inspire and challenge pupils, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to experiment, invent and create their own works of art, craft and design. Art is encouraged cross curricularly, and through topic work and displays.
Planning
The teaching and implementation of the Art and Design Curriculum at St Francis RC Primary School is based on the National Curriculum and is supported by Plan B scheme of work, ensuring a well-structured approach to this creative subject.
The Foundation Stage team plan for children’s needs using Development Matters.
Teaching of Art and Design Technology in Early Years Foundation Stage
In Early years, Art and Design plays a very important role in their development. Children are taught to represent their own ideas, thoughts and feelings through design and technology, art, music and dance. The Foundation Stage team plan for children’s needs using Development Matters.
They safely use and explore a variety of materials, tools and techniques, experimenting with colour, design, texture, form and function. Materials and resources are accessible for pupils to source independently.
Teaching of Art in Key Stage 1
Pupils should be taught to;
- To use a range of materials creatively to design
- To use drawing, painting and sculpture to develop and share their ideas, experiences and imagination
- To develop a wide range of art and design techniques in using colour, pattern, texture, line, form and shape
- About the work of a range of artists, craft makers and designers, describing the differences and similarities between different practices and disciplines, and making links to their own work
Teaching of Art in Key Stage 2
Pupils should be taught to develop their techniques, including their control and their use of materials, with creativity, experimentation and an increasing awareness of different kinds of art, craft and design.
Pupils should be taught:
- To create sketch books to record their observations and use them to review and revisit ideas
- To improve their mastery of art and design techniques, including drawing, painting and Sculpture with a range of materials [for example, pencil, charcoal, paint, and clay]
- About great artists, architects and designers in history.
Children will be become creative learners, who have a web of knowledge about the great artists of the world. Creativity and uniqueness will be celebrated and children will become astute at editing and improving the pieces they have created. As teachers, there will be an emphasis placed on individuality and children will be given the freedom to explore art using their imaginations. Children will have embedded the key art and design skills needed to allow them to produce inventive pieces of art. It is intended that when pupils leave St Francis they will have met the attainment targets in the Art programme of study.