Subject Leader - Mrs D Raval
What do we want our pupils to learn?
Our Art and design teaching aims to nurture pupils’ creativity, imagination and visual literacy, encouraging them to think like artists and designers. The intention is for pupils to develop the confidence to experiment, express ideas and communicate meaning through visual and tactile media.
We promote an appreciation of art as a powerful form of human expression, helping pupils to understand its role across different cultures, time periods and creative industries. It encourages children to value originality, take creative risks and reflect critically on their own work and that of others.
We support teachers in developing their subject knowledge and pedagogical confidence, enabling the delivery of rich, engaging and purposeful lessons. The curriculum is designed to be both inclusive and ambitious, ensuring all pupils are equipped to enjoy, create and respond to art in meaningful ways.
What we are teaching...
Year 1
Drawing: Exploring line and shape
Exploring line and shape; working and experimenting with different materials through observational and collaborative pieces inspired by artists.
Painting and mixed media: Colour splash
In this unit children learn about primary and secondary colours, colour mixing techniques, and applying these skills in painting and printing. The lessons encourage exploration and confidence in colour use, culminating in creating a painted plate in the style of an artist. This unit enhances pupils' understanding of colours and their applications in art.
Sculpture and 3D: Paper play
This unit introduces pupils to paper-based 3D art forms, focusing on techniques like rolling paper tubes, shaping paper strips, and constructing imaginative sculptures. Children develop skills in creating 3D structures and applying painting skills in three-dimensional art, enhancing their understanding of form and construction.
Year 2
Craft and design: Map it out
This unit focuses on teaching children to explore and create maps through various art forms, including drawing, working in relief, printmaking, and designing stained glass. The lessons aim to develop skills in sorting, designing, and evaluating art, encouraging students to present and discuss their creations in a class gallery setting.
Painting and mixed media: Life in colour
This unit focuses on teaching primary and secondary colours, colour mixing, and creating textures using different tools. It also covers collage techniques, encouraging pupils to experiment with materials and evaluate their artistic choices and aims to develop children's understanding of colour, texture, and composition in art.
Sculpture and 3D: Clay houses
This unit focuses on teaching pupils to shape and decorate clay, create a pinch pot, design and make a clay tile with house features. It emphasises practical skills in working with clay and applying artistic techniques in a structured project.
How we teach...
Recap and recall
Each lesson begins with a short activity revisiting prior learning. This helps reinforce key knowledge, activate long-term memory and create connections between past and new learning.
Recap and recall activities are varied to keep the start of the lesson engaging and fun while still supporting active recall.
Attention grabber
A short, engaging activity designed to hook pupils into the new learning in the lesson.
The activity could be a thought-provoking question, a quick investigation or an interactive discussion to spark curiosity and enthusiasm for the topic.
Main event
The core part of the lesson, where children engage in activities that develop their understanding of the learning objective.
The Main event usually includes a mixture of teacher modelling, guided practice and independent or collaborative tasks tailored to support all learners.
Wrapping up
A final reflective activity that consolidates learning.
Wrapping up activities could involve reviewing the success criteria, discussing key learning or applying knowledge in a different context to assess understanding and encourage deeper thinking.
Sketchbooks
Throughout the art and design curriculum, sketchbooks are central to the creative process. They are used throughout each unit, not just for planning or finishing work, to explore, experiment, refine and reflect. This mirrors how real artists work and helps pupils understand that creating art is a journey rather than a single step.
Regular use of sketchbooks allows pupils to record ideas, practise techniques and respond to feedback. Over time, this supports the development of a personal style, helping pupils build confidence and grow as independent artists.
What pupils will have learnt to do...
Practical knowledge – the skills and techniques pupils use when making art, including methods, materials and formal elements.
Theoretical knowledge – knowledge of artists, art movements and contexts that help pupils understand and interpret creative work.
Disciplinary knowledge – understanding how art is studied, discussed and evaluated through critical reflection and questioning.