Art

Art Curriculum

At Quest Primary, the Art & Design curriculum sets out the foundational skills, knowledge and aspiration for our children to become excellent artists, designers, architects, illustrators, art therapists, make-up artists and photographers. We place a great emphasis on the importance of Art & Design to ensure children have the opportunity to develop and extend their skills, whilst expressing their individual interests, thoughts and ideas. Art & Design is taught across a half term and children have an opportunity to creatively consider ideas through exploration and experimentation using a curriculum which engages, inspires and challenges. Our intent is to deliver a high-quality art and design curriculum which engages, inspires and challenges pupils, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to experiment, invent and create their own works of art, craft and design. They will think critically and develop a more rigorous understanding of art and design. They will also know how art and design both reflects and shapes our history, and contributes to the culture and creativity of our changing world.

At Quest Primary School, we recognise that for our pupils to aspire and be successful academically and in the wider areas of their lives, they need to be given rich and sustained opportunities to develop their cultural capital. Analysis and discussion about our pupils’ backgrounds, life experiences and culture has helped us to design a curriculum which places our school values at the heart of our curriculum.

Art and Design in the EYFS falls under the area of ‘Expressive arts and design.’ It is used to develop a child’s imagination, creativity and their ability to use media and materials. It helps our children to represent and understand their own feelings and ideas. We follow the National Curriculum Programme of Study for Art & Design at KS1 and KS2. In Key Stage One pupils are taught to use a range of materials creatively to design and make products. They are taught to use drawing, painting and sculpture to develop and share their ideas, experiences and imagination. They develop art and design techniques in using colour, pattern, texture, line, shape, form and space. Art units begin by looking at 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. In Key Stage Two pupils there is a continuation of developing their techniques, including control and the use of materials, with creativity, experimentation and an increasing awareness of different kinds of art, craft and design. They use their sketch books to record their observations and use them to review and revisit ideas. There is a focus on mastery of art and design techniques, including drawing, painting and sculpture with a range of materials [for example, pencil, charcoal, paint, clay].

During art and design lessons children at Quest Primary research key artists, craftspeople, architects and designers in the world of art and use them as inspiration to shape their own ideas. Local artists and designers have also been implemented into the curriculum to inspire and excite the children, for example, visiting the Croydon Street Art. Lessons can sometimes link to other areas of the curriculum to enable the children to make connections within their learning. All children have their own sketchbook to record their art work and learning throughout their time in KS1 and KS2.