Art & Design

At Cardinham School, we value Art and Design as an essential part of a broad, balanced and enriching curriculum. We believe that every child is an artist and that art provides a unique opportunity for children to express themselves, explore their creativity and communicate ideas, thoughts and emotions in a visual form.

Through our art curriculum, we aim to inspire curiosity, imagination and a lifelong appreciation of creativity. We provide opportunities for children to develop confidence in their own artistic abilities whilst fostering independence, resilience, critical thinking and self-reflection. Art enables children to engage with and respond to the world around them, helping them to develop a sense of wonder, curiosity and an understanding of different cultures, ideas and perspectives.

We aim to provide a high-quality art education that equips pupils with the knowledge, skills and vocabulary needed to experiment, invent and create their own works of art. As children progress through the school, they develop a deeper understanding of artistic processes, techniques and the work of significant artists, craftspeople and designers from a range of cultures, periods and backgrounds. Through this, children learn how art both reflects and shapes society and appreciate its contribution to culture, creativity and our wider world.

Implementation

At Cardinham School, we deliver a skills-based art curriculum that enables children to progressively develop their knowledge, understanding and mastery of artistic techniques. Pupils are provided with opportunities to explore, experiment and refine their skills across the key disciplines of drawing, painting, printing, collage and sculpture.

Our curriculum is carefully sequenced to build upon prior learning, allowing children to revisit and develop skills over time. Through the study of a diverse range of artists, designers and craftspeople, children gain an understanding of different artistic styles, techniques and influences while developing their ability to evaluate and discuss artwork using appropriate artistic vocabulary.

Art is taught through termly blocks, allowing children to immerse themselves in a particular focus and develop their skills in depth. Lessons typically involve:

• Exploring and analysing the work of artists, craftspeople and designers.
• Developing knowledge of artistic styles, techniques and processes.
• Experimenting with a range of materials, tools and media.
• Practising and refining specific artistic skills.
• Recording ideas, observations and evaluations in sketchbooks.
• Planning, creating and refining a final piece of artwork.
• Reflecting on and evaluating their own work and the work of others.

Children use their sketchbooks as a personal record of their artistic journey, documenting their ideas, observations, experiments and reflections. These sketchbooks follow pupils throughout their time at school, showcasing progression in both skills and creativity. Photographic evidence is also included to capture larger-scale, collaborative and three-dimensional work.

To enrich the curriculum further, Year 2 and Year 4 pupils have the opportunity to work alongside a local artist, allowing them to experience artistic processes first hand and gain insight into creative careers and practices within the local community.

Impact

The impact of our Art and Design curriculum is evident throughout the school environment, within children's sketchbooks and through the confidence and enthusiasm they demonstrate when engaging in creative activities.

As a result of our curriculum, children:

• Develop a secure range of artistic skills and techniques.
• Show creativity, imagination and originality within their work.
• Take pride in their achievements and talk confidently about their artistic choices.
• Use artistic vocabulary to discuss, evaluate and reflect on artwork.
• Demonstrate resilience by experimenting, refining and improving their work.
• Develop an appreciation of artists, craftspeople and designers from different times, cultures and backgrounds.
• Understand how art reflects and influences the world around us.
• Express their ideas, thoughts and emotions creatively and confidently.
• Build confidence in their own creative abilities and value the creative contributions of others.

Everything we do is with the child at the centre of learning. Positive relationships, high expectations and a nurturing environment enable all pupils to flourish creatively. Children leave Cardinham School with a love of Art and Design, an appreciation of creativity in all its forms and the confidence to continue expressing themselves through art in the future.