Art, Craft & Design is a natural form of expression and can be a source of great pleasure. We encourage children to develop their creative and imaginative talents through learning skills and techniques and using a variety of materials and tools.

Curriculum Statement for Art

Intent

The art curriculum at St. Laurence develops creativity, teaches history, sets challenges, engages and inspires children. The art curriculum provides children with the knowledge and skills to experiment, invent and create their own works of art, craft and design. St Laurence believes that art is a vital part of a child’s education and has an important and valuable role in the taught curriculum, as well as the enrichment opportunities we offer our pupils. The art curriculum will develop children’s critical abilities and understanding of their own and others’ cultural heritages through studying a diverse range of artists and art movements. Understanding of the visual elements of art and design (line, tone, texture, colour, mood, pattern, shape, 3D form) will be developed by providing a curriculum which will enable children to reach their full potential.

Implementation

At St. Laurence, the skills and knowledge that children will develop in art are mapped across each year group and throughout the school to ensure progression. Using the Primary Knowledge Curriculum supports a knowledge-rich approach to art as well as ensuring the children have regular, high-quality art lessons. The emphasis on knowledge ensures that children understand the context of the artwork, as well as the artists that they are learning about and being inspired by. This enables links to other curriculum areas with children developing a considerable knowledge of individual artists as well as individual works and art movements. A similar focus on skills means that children are given opportunities to express their creative imagination, as well as practise and develop mastery in the key processes of art: drawing, painting, printing, textiles and sculpture. Coordinated whole-school project work will ensure that art is given high status in the curriculum and the school takes part in local art competitions. The children’s artwork is displayed around the school, encouraging them to take pride in their work and showing the status of art throughout the whole school. The school’s high-quality art curriculum (Primary Knowledge Curriculum) is supported through the availability of a wide range of quality resources. Impact

The school environment at St. Laurence celebrates children’s achievements in art and demonstrates the importance of creativity in our school, with outcomes enhancing the indoor as well as the outdoor environment. Children collaborating in whole school projects that reflect our school ethos, history and culture are displayed in our school. Classroom displays also reflect the children’s sense of pride in their artwork and this is also demonstrated by creative outcomes across the wider curriculum. The art curriculum at St. Laurence contributes to children’s personal development in creativity, independence, judgement and self-reflection.

Impact

The school environment at St. Laurence celebrates children’s achievements in art and demonstrates the importance of creativity in our school, with outcomes enhancing the indoor as well as the outdoor environment. Children collaborating in whole school projects that reflect our school ethos, history and culture are displayed in our school. Classroom displays also reflect the children’s sense of pride in their artwork and this is also demonstrated by creative outcomes across the wider curriculum. The Art curriculum at St Laurence contributes to children’s personal development in creativity, independence, judgement and self-reflection.