Our Primary Art and Design Curriculum

Our Art and Design curriculum is designed to inspire creativity, curiosity and confidence, while developing children’s knowledge, skills and understanding of the world of art. Children are introduced to a diverse range of artists, designers and artistic movements, learning to look closely, ask questions, discuss and evaluate artwork, and make connections between artists and their own experiences.

Across the school, children develop a broad range of practical skills through drawing, painting, sculpture, printing, textiles and mixed-media work. They are encouraged to experiment, take creative risks, develop ideas, refine their techniques and make thoughtful artistic choices. Learning follows a clear journey from exploring and researching artists, through practising and experimenting, to designing, creating and evaluating their own work.
Our curriculum also recognises that Art and Design provides rich opportunities for wider learning. Children develop oracy by discussing artwork, explaining choices and giving and responding to feedback; reading through researching artists, following instructions and engaging with visual and written information; writing through sketchbook annotations, evaluations and research; and mathematical understanding through concepts such as proportion, scale, measurement, shape and balance.
Sketchbooks play an important role in recording children’s artistic journeys. They provide a space for children to collect ideas, practise techniques, record observations, reflect on their learning and evaluate their developing work. We value the process of creating as much as the final outcome, encouraging children to learn from challenges, respond to feedback and recognise that there can be many different and equally valid artistic responses.

Ultimately, our Art and Design curriculum aims to nurture creative, reflective and confident young artists who can appreciate the work of others, express their own ideas and experiences, and use their growing knowledge and skills to create artwork that is meaningful to them.

Our Art and Design progression document, curriculum overview and Assessment overview can be found below.