Holy Family Catholic Primary School

Holy Family Catholic Primary School Art & Design Policy

PURPOSE OF STUDY

Art, craft and design embody some of the highest forms of human creativity. 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. As pupils progress, they should be able to think critically and develop a more rigorous understanding of art and design. They should also know how art and design both reflect and shape our history, and contribute to the culture, creativity and wealth of our nation.

AIMS

The national curriculum for art and design aims to ensure that all pupils:

produce creative work, exploring their ideas and recording their experiences
become proficient in drawing, painting, sculpture and other art, craft and design techniques
evaluate and analyse creative works using the language of art, craft and design
know about great artists, craft makers and designers, and understand the historical and cultural development of their art forms.

ATTAINMENT TARGETS

By the end of each key stage, pupils are expected to know, apply and understand the matters, skills and processes specified in the relevant programme of study.

SUBJECT CONTENT

Key stage 1

Pupils should be taught:

to use a range of materials creatively to design and make products
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, shape, form and space
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.

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, clay]
about great artists, architects and designers in history.

PROCEDURES

CURRICULUM PLANNING & ASSESSMENT

We use the national scheme of work as the basis for our curriculum planning in art and design.

We plan the activities in art and design so that they build upon the prior learning of the children. While we give children of all abilities opportunity to develop their skills, knowledge and understanding, we also build planned progression into the scheme of work, so that there is an increasing challenge for the children as they move up through the school. The learning objectives and skills linked to the programme of study are provided on a Learning Progression Grid, within the appropriate Year group or phase (attached).

Where possible, art and design is linked to the Year Group’s current Theme or Topic. Long Term plans provide an outline of what will be taught within each Theme and medium term plans follow the art learning process: exploring, developing ideas, technical skills, creating, evaluating.

Inclusion, assessment, recording and reporting achievement will be the responsibility of all teachers in accordance with our other school policies.

THE FOUNDATION STAGE

We particularly encourage creative work in the reception class as this is a central element of the Foundation Stage of the National Curriculum. We relate the creative development of the children to the objectives set out in the Early Learning Goals, which underpin the curriculum planning for children aged three to five. The children’s learning includes art, music, dance, role-play and imaginative play. The range of experience encourages children to make connections between one area of learning and another and so extends their understanding.

We provide a rich environment in which we encourage and value creativity. Children experience a wide range of activities that they respond to, using the various senses. We give them the opportunity to work alongside artists and other adults. The activities that they take part in are imaginative and enjoyable.

RESOURCES

We have a wide range of resources to support the teaching of art and design across the school. All our classrooms have a range of basic resources, but we keep the more specialised equipment in the art and design room, in the KS1 Hall. This room is accessible to children only under adult supervision. Other resources are brought in when needed for additional projects lead by external art specialists.

MONITORING AND REVIEW

The monitoring of the standards of children’s work and of the quality of teaching in art and design is the responsibility of the art and design co-ordinator. The work of the co-ordinator also involves supporting colleagues in the teaching of art and design, being informed about current developments in the subject, and providing a strategic lead and direction for the subject in the school. The art and design co-ordinator monitors provision in each year group and produces an action plan which aims to further improve the quality of the art curriculum. The art co-ordinator reviews evidence of the children’s work in books and on display; collects pupil feedback and undertakes lesson observations of art and design teaching across the school. Where external artists are used, the art co-ordinator may need to ensure they are familiar with our schools policy and procedures for teaching art.

Holy Family Catholic Primary School