Intent
At Thorpe Primary School, we have designed a curriculum for the arts with the intent that our children will, from the early years, develop a sense of creativity, self-expression, excellence and high attainment.
We will deliver a curriculum that will allow all children to aspirational, inquisitive and mindful by:
- Exposing all children to the arts, giving them a chance to experience, and participate in a range of creative activities and events.
- Allowing our children to experiment in a ‘safe’ environment where there are no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ results, thus, both self-expression and self-esteem may be enhanced.
- Giving children entitlement to a wide range of experiences in the arts as part of and in addition to the curriculum.
- Allowing them to experience art in the outdoors.
- Giving children the opportunity to explore, develop and communicate their personal, aesthetic response to experience.
- Developing their knowledge and skills within a wide range of arts activities.
- Introducing them to an appreciation of the arts that will last a lifetime.
- Helping them make personal interpretations of what they have experienced.
- Encouraging children to express themselves creatively using a wide range of media and situations.
Implementation
The teaching, learning and sequencing of the curriculum follows;
- At Thorpe, Art is taught in every year group, once per week rotating half termly with Design Technology.
- Each child has a sketchbook to record their learning and progress. We give the child ownership of their sketchbook in order to foster their sense of creativity. Children use their sketchbooks to make initial sketches, develop skills, record ideas and develop opinions. Pupils should be aware that their sketchbook does not need to be ‘perfect’ and that it is a working document and a collection of ideas.
- Teachers follow a clear progression of skills which ensures all pupils are challenged in line with their year group expectations and are given the opportunity to build on their prior knowledge. These take place in discrete art and design lessons and also in other wider curriculum subjects.
- Wherever possible first hand experiences and real things are used to stimulate art and design activities. Teaching is done in whole class groups followed by group and individual work. New techniques and skills are modelled and examples of work are shown to the children.
- In group and individual work, pupils have the opportunity to investigate, explore and develop ideas and techniques. They are also involved in evaluating their work, celebrating success and identifying areas for improvement.
- Art activities are differentiated to ensure that all pupils can access the tasks and have an appropriate level of challenge. Pupils with particular talents are given opportunities to extend them. Opportunities for using and extending art skills are built into lessons in other subjects.
- We ensure that children also have access to contemporary (20th and 21st century) female and male artists as well as more traditional ones, that are perhaps more relevant to children today.
- Cross curricular opportunities for further learning and development in the arts are built into planning of all subjects as a means of enhancing the children’s learning opportunities.
- In the EYs there is continuous provision of art and design opportunities: these activities make important contributions to children’s development in the areas of Expressive Arts and Design and Communication and Language. They are also important in children’s Personal, Social and Emotional development. Art is covered in art lessons, continuous provision and as a means of communication and learning in other curriculum areas.
- The art and design subject leader will monitor and evaluate medium term planning and individual sketchbooks.
Impact
- Children show clear enjoyment, self-expression and confidence in art and design
- The majority of children will be working at or above the age-related expectations.
- Children experience a broad, balanced art curriculum, with an emphasis on the development of understanding and skills in art and design.
- experience art through other areas of the curriculum.
- be given a wide range of opportunities to express themselves creatively.
- be given the opportunity to develop skills and interests.
- begin to develop awareness of the emotional impact the arts have on themselves and on an audience.