Art

Intent

At Christ Church, we value art as an important part of the children’s entitlement to a broad and balanced curriculum. We believe that Art and Design provides the children opportunities to develop and extend skills and an opportunity to express their individual interests, thoughts and hobbies.

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.

These key skills will be taught through carefully planned topics, as outlined in the Progression of Skills document below.

KS1 Progression of Skills

KS2 Progression of Skills

Implementation

Our Art curriculum is implemented by teaching art regularly. The children will cover an art topic once every term and will also have additional opportunities to engage with art activities throughout the school year. Some Art topics are linked as closely as possible to the topic for the term, to ensure relevance and context. A skills-based curriculum is taught, which covers drawing, painting, sculpture, textiles and printing. Skills are revisited and honed in a spiral curriculum, which progresses in terms of depth and challenge, to build on the children’s previous learning. We ensure that each child develops their skills and techniques in a way appropriate to them, through clear differentiation and support, active and purposeful experiences, and using a variety of art materials and teaching strategies. We foster an enjoyment and appreciation of the visual arts and a knowledge of artists, craftspeople, architects and designers. Introducing children to artists and art movements directly linked to the skills or topics they are covering. We have a sketchbook approach, so that children feel safe to experiment and take risks, without the fear of doing something wrong. We encourage each child to evaluate their art work and that of others, both with peers and adults.

Impact

Art and design embody some of the highest forms of human creativity. Our curriculum will 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 will be able to think critically and develop a more rigorous understanding of art and design. They should also know how art reflects history and contributes to the culture, creativity and wealth of a nation.

Art and Design Road Map

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Y6 King Charles

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Exploring Kenya Through Art – Early Years & Key Stage 1

Our infant children have been on a creative journey across Kenya, learning about its vibrant culture, wildlife, and artistic traditions. In Reception, the children explored African animals through hands-on art, using shapes, textures, and colour to bring Kenya’s safari wildlife to life.

Year 1 focused on rhythm and craft, designing and decorating their own djembe drums, inspired by traditional African instruments. They also experimented with paper weaving, exploring patterns and colour mixing.

In Year 2, the children delved deeper into Kenyan and southern African art traditions. They created their own patterns, constructed Ndebele-style paper houses, and crafted clay pots decorated with authentic Kenyan designs. They also made traditional tribal jewellery, learning about the importance of adornment and symbolism in Kenyan communities. As part of their learning, Year 2 became mini curators, coming up with a creative name for their exhibition and planning how best to exhibit their work. They then hosted an inspiring art exhibition where they proudly showcased their talents and explained to visitors how they created their work and the inspiration behind it. Parents and visitors were delighted to see the creativity and cultural appreciation reflected in the students’ vibrant pieces. It was a wonderful celebration of the children’s hard work and artistic talent!