Art

Art Curriculum Intent

Our art and design curriculum is designed to inspire, engage and challenge pupils, enabling them to communicate ideas, feelings and experiences through a range of artistic media and techniques. Pupils are supported to explore and experiment with colour, texture, form and pattern while developing their own creative responses. The curriculum is carefully sequenced so that pupils build secure artistic knowledge and skills over time. Pupils learn about a range of artists, designers and craftspeople and develop their understanding of techniques, materials and processes through regular opportunities to practise and refine their work. Key knowledge and vocabulary are revisited through intelligent repetition to support confidence and progression.

Strong foundations are established in the early years through exploration of materials, mark making and creative play. As pupils move through the school, they develop increasing control, skill and understanding in drawing, painting, sculpture and other forms of art and design. 

Our art and design curriculum is ambitious and inclusive, designed to be accessible to all pupils, including those with SEND and those who may face barriers to learning. By the end of primary school, pupils will have developed the skills, knowledge and confidence to create, evaluate and talk about their own work and the work of others.

Art Subject Overview

The art and design subject overview shows how key artistic knowledge, techniques and skills are organised and revisited across each year group to support progression and retention over time.

How Art is Taught

Art and design is taught through a carefully sequenced curriculum that builds pupils’ artistic knowledge, techniques and skills progressively over time. New learning is explicitly linked to prior experiences so that pupils can develop increasing confidence, control and understanding in their creative work. Lessons provide regular opportunities for pupils to explore a range of media, materials and techniques, including drawing, painting, sculpture and mixed media. Pupils are taught key artistic skills and processes explicitly and are supported to practise, refine and apply these within their own creative outcomes.

Pupils are introduced to the work of artists, designers and craftspeople and are encouraged to observe, discuss and reflect on different styles and approaches. This supports pupils in developing artistic vocabulary and understanding, and in making informed creative choices.

In the early years, children develop artistic foundations through exploration, mark making and experimentation with materials. As pupils move through the school, they build increasing independence, skill and confidence in creating and evaluating their own artwork.

Adaptive Teaching

Our art and design curriculum is designed to be inclusive and accessible to all pupils, including those with SEND and those who may face barriers to learning. Adaptations are made through high-quality teaching so that all pupils can engage with the same creative experiences and develop artistic skills and understanding. Artistic techniques and processes are modelled step by step, with complex tasks broken down into smaller, sequenced stages to support understanding and success. Where appropriate, templates or partially scaffolded designs are used to help pupils focus on key techniques while maintaining creative freedom.

Pupils are supported through flexible approaches such as additional time for practical tasks, peer support for more challenging elements and adjusted expectations for fine motor precision where needed. These adaptations ensure that pupils can participate fully while continuing to develop creativity and confidence. Opportunities for discussion and reflection are embedded throughout lessons, allowing pupils to talk about their ideas, respond to what they see and evaluate their work and the work of others through structured conversation rather than written outcomes where this supports access.

Impact

The impact of our art and design curriculum is that pupils develop a secure understanding of artistic techniques and the confidence to express ideas creatively. Pupils can use a range of media and materials purposefully and talk about their own work and the work of others using appropriate artistic vocabulary. They demonstrate increasing control, skill and independence as they create, refine and evaluate their artwork. By the end of primary school, pupils have developed the knowledge, skills and confidence to create meaningful artwork, reflect on their creative process and appreciate the work of artists, designers and craftspeople.