Wendell ParkArt and Design
Intent (before the teaching)
Art at Wendell Park aims to harness children’s creativity and imaginations, while introducing them to a wide variety of media and skills that are developed as they move through the school. Within the curriculum, Art clearly contributes towards enabling children to respond thoughtfully to different learning and stimuli. Our children should be able to develop their cultural understanding in a range of contexts, Art being one of them. We also want our children to understand that the perseverance and attentiveness needed to complete an Art and Design project leads to personal pride and gratification.
We pride ourselves in using art to help build cultural capital - many of our projects involve trips and inspire deeper thinking about the world around us and the children’s identity within it.
Implementation (subject in action)
The teaching and implementation of the Art and Design Curriculum at Wendell Park is based on the National Curriculum in KS1 and KS2 and the Early Learning Goals in EYFS. The skills are applied in the context of other subjects in order to enhance and complement the learning being done. We teach a skills-based art curriculum, which allows the children to express their creative imagination as well as providing them with the opportunities to practice and develop mastery in the key processes of art. This is supported through studying and comparing artists and the development of a knowledge in their work.
At Wendell Park, we ensure that progression is being made in children’s skills and knowledge of drawing, printing, painting, colour, sculpture, texture, and pattern, by following a skills progression document. In EYFS the children have daily access to a variety of media and materials which they can explore to produce their own creative work. Provision is carefully planned to suit the interests of the children, whilst developing the necessary skills they are working on. It is then in KS1 where the fundamental skills are developed and we look for any gaps in the children’s learning so that we can address these at an early stage. By upper KS2, we aim for the children to use all the skills and knowledge that has been built upon year after year, to apply it to a variety of media and materials. KS1 and KS2 both use sketchbooks to document their art learning journey, they are given time with their sketch books to practise new skills before applying them to create a new piece of artwork. As well as this, supplementary practical techniques are often introduced through extra-curricular clubs, workshops, and links with local artists and studios as well as in our annual Arts Week.
Impact (after the teaching)
By the end of each Key Stage, all children can apply and understand the skills, knowledge and processes they have been taught. Thus meaning that they are proficient in drawing, painting, sculpture and other art, craft, and design techniques. Due to the nature of this curriculum area, Art and Design monitoring takes various forms. A key component of this is pupil interviews; this is an effective tool to ascertain the children’s ability to express themselves through a range of different mediums. Sketch book monitoring throughout all year groups also takes place to compliment this, allowing leaders to ensure our children have the opportunity to develop their skills fully and showcase their talents. Examples of our children’s work is exhibited throughout the school, both on classroom and communal displays.
Most importantly, children will leave Wendell Park knowing that it is okay to make mistakes along their journey, they will think for themselves and be critical about their own and other’s work- knowing how they can improve it or knowing when to stop if they are satisfied with their creative work.
‘Creativity is inventing, experimenting, growing, taking risks, breaking rules, making mistakes, and having fun.’
– Mary Lou Cook
Progression of Knowledge and Skills
Our ‘Art subject progression of skills and knowledge ‘ document gives further information about how the children progress in Art as they move up through the school.
Progression of skills and knowledge
Long Term Plan
Our ‘Art Long Term Plan ‘ document gives further information about what the children are taught in this subject by year group.
Art and Design National Curriculum
If you would like to know more, please visit Art National Curriculum