Art and Design

Intent

At St Barnabas Nursery and Primary, we want our children to see themselves as artists. We aim to nurture creativity, curiosity and self expression, while developing secure knowledge of artistic techniques, materials and processes.

Our ambition is for pupils to develop both substantive knowledge (understanding of artistic concepts, vocabulary and elements such as line, colour, texture, shape, form, space and tone) and disciplinary knowledge (knowing how to generate ideas, experiment, refine, create and evaluate like an artist).

From the earliest years, children explore materials, make marks and talk about what they notice and create. Our Nursery Strong Foundations approach ensures that children build fine motor control, visual awareness and early creative confidence that prepares them well for future learning.

We want pupils to leave St Barnabas as confident, thoughtful and imaginative artists who take pride in their work and are willing to take creative risks.

Implementation

Art and Design is taught through a carefully sequenced and progressive curriculum organised into blocks covering drawing, painting, printmaking, textiles, 3D and collage. Key disciplines are revisited across the school so that pupils build skills and knowledge with increasing depth and complexity.

Teaching focuses on:

• Explicit teaching of artistic techniques and processes

• Clear modelling and high quality visual examples

• Introduction and regular use of artistic vocabulary

• Opportunities to explore, practise, refine and create

Lessons follow a consistent sequence of Connect, Explain, Example, Attempt, Apply and Challenge, supporting pupils to build understanding step by step. Knowledge Notes and Knowledge Organisers are used to reduce cognitive load and help pupils focus on the most important content.

High quality oracy is central to art lessons. Pupils discuss techniques, describe their choices, explain their thinking and evaluate their own and others’ work using appropriate artistic language.

Pupils study a diverse range of artists and designers and learn how art is studied, discussed and judged. Meaningful links are made to literature and other curriculum subjects to deepen understanding and inspire creativity.

Teachers make reasonable adjustments and provide scaffolds so that all pupils, including those with SEND or who are disadvantaged, can access materials, participate fully and achieve success.

Impact

By the time pupils leave St Barnabas, they:

• Have secure knowledge of key artistic techniques, materials and concepts

• Use artistic vocabulary confidently and accurately

• Create purposeful and imaginative artwork across a range of media

• Evaluate and refine their work and the work of others

• Show confidence, creativity and enjoyment in art

Pupils leave St Barnabas as resilient and reflective artists who are proud of what they create and who carry with them a love of creativity, a strong sense of belonging and the aspiration to continue exploring the arts.