Mission Statement

‘Every child is an artist.  The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.’ 

Pablo Picasso

Intent

Art, craft and design embody some of the highest forms of human creativity. A high-quality art and design education should engage, inspire and challenge pupils, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to experiment, invent and create their own works of art, craft and design. As pupils progress, they should be able to think critically and develop a more rigorous understanding of art and design. They should also know how art and design both reflect and shape our history, and contribute to the culture, creativity and wealth of our nation

Curriculum Aims

The national curriculum for art and design aims to ensure that all pupils:

• produce creative work, exploring their ideas and recording their experiences  
• become proficient in drawing, painting, sculpture and other art, craft and design techniques  
• evaluate and analyse creative works using the language of art, craft and design  
• know about great artists, craft makers and designers, and understand the historical and cultural development of their art forms.

_{Teaching and Learning}

Throughout the school, art is generally planned to link to other areas of the curriculum.  It is usually taught weekly but may be taught as a block if this is appropriate.  The children’s art work is celebrated on displays both in the classroom and around the school.

Early Years

In Early Years children are encouraged to use their imaginations and to explore and experiment with a range of media and materials.

KS1

In KS1 children are taught to use a range of materials creatively to design and make products; to use drawing, painting and sculpture to develop and share their ideas, experiences and imagination; to develop a wide range of art and design techniques in using colour, pattern, texture, line, shape, form and space; about the work of a range of artists, craft makers and designers, describing the differences and similarities between different practices and disciplines, and making links to their own work.

KS2

In KS2 children are taught to continue to develop their techniques, including their control and their use of materials, with creativity, experimentation and an increasing awareness of different kinds of art, craft and design.  They are also taught to create sketch books to record their observations and use them to review and revisit ideas; to improve their mastery of art and design techniques, including drawing, painting and sculpture with a range of materials [for example, pencil, charcoal, paint, clay]; about great artists, architects and designers in history.

Each year, the school participates in the National Gallery’s Take One Picture initiative which involves the whole school using a given picture from the gallery’s collection as an inspiration for art work and other curriculum areas.  The school also takes part in local and national art competitions and exhibitions such as designing Christmas cards for soldiers, creating posters for local events and contributing to the Remembrance display in Cheshunt.  The children contribute to the displays in our local library.