"Art is relaxing and fun, I wish it were Creative Week every week!"

In line with the aims of the national curriculum we want our pupils to:

• 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. 
• 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.

Children begin their artistic education in EYFS using a variety of drawing and painting tools, investigating different lines, colours, shapes and textures. They use paints, pencils, crayons, chalks, pastels, glue, scissors and different types of paper and materials to create pictures and collages. Children make models with playdough, slat dough and clay, developing their fine motor skills. We encourage the children to notice features of the natural world and represent their ideas, thoughts and feelings through art.

Across KS1 and KS2, children begin each Art unit with an in-depth study of a famous Artist. They study the life of the artist, why their work is important and the impact and relevance of their work within society today. These inspiring artists range in gender, ethnicity, age, media and geographical location so that pupils gain diverse knowledge.

Throughout the Art and Design learning, children will:

• Identify what they are pleased with in their current work and how they may develop their work in the future.
• Produce creative work, exploring their ideas and recording their experiences.
• Know about great artists and understand the historical and cultural development of their art forms.
• Begin to develop skills in using a range of art, craft and design techniques.
• Compare ideas, methods and approaches in their own and others’ work and say what they think and feel about this.
• Adapt their work according to their views and describe how they might develop it further.
• Know about great artists and understand the historical and cultural development of their art forms.
• Develop skills in using a range of art, craft and design techniques.
• Produce creative work, exploring their ideas and recording their experiences.

The children explore each media and build upon their skill set year upon year:

• Drawing
• Printing
• Textiles
• 3D Collage
• Painting

Our artistic learning is underpinned by our drawing skills, which means we revisit every unit and teach the following drawing techniques:

• Line
• Tone
• Colour
• Form
• Texture
• Shape
• Pattern

We use our ‘Creative books’ (sketch books) to record, revisit and edit our ideas and our children’s work is celebrated and displayed across the school. Our Gallery Wall shows a diverse array of excellent artwork from around our school.