Statement of Intent - Art and Design

At Fulwood and Cadley Primary School, we believe that art provides every child with opportunities to explore, create, express themselves and develop their own individual artistic identity.

Our art curriculum is ambitious for all pupils and is carefully sequenced so that children progressively develop their knowledge, skills and understanding. Children experience a broad range of media, materials and techniques and learn about significant artists, designers and craftspeople from different cultures, traditions and periods.

We want children to understand that art is not simply about producing a finished piece; it is a process of exploring, experimenting, practising, evaluating, refining and creating.

How We Teach Art

Art is taught through carefully sequenced units within our two-year rolling curriculum.

Each unit is driven by a purposeful Big Question and provides opportunities for children to build upon their prior learning. Key artistic knowledge, vocabulary, techniques and processes are explicitly taught and revisited as children progress through school.

Children explore the work of artists, designers and craftspeople and consider how their work can inspire and influence their own ideas. They are encouraged to experiment with different approaches rather than simply reproducing the work of an artist.

The Artistic Process

Sketchbooks are an important part of our art curriculum and provide a space for children to explore ideas, practise techniques, experiment with materials, record observations and reflect upon their developing work.

Children are taught that successful artwork develops through a process. They are encouraged to make choices, take creative risks, evaluate their work and refine their ideas before creating a final outcome.

At the end of each unit, children use their accumulated knowledge and skills to respond to the Big Question and create an outcome that demonstrates their individual learning and creativity.

Developing Independent Artists

We want our children to become confident and independent artists who recognise that there is not always one 'right' way to create.

As children progress through school, they are given increasing opportunities to make their own artistic choices, including selecting appropriate materials, techniques and approaches to communicate their ideas.

Children are encouraged to draw upon previous learning and independently use the resources available to them, including their sketchbooks, working walls, reference materials, iPads and curriculum loan boxes.

Through our art curriculum, we aim for every child to develop the confidence to explore, experiment, create and express their own ideas, while developing an appreciation of art and its place within different cultures, communities and periods of history.