Art and Design

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.

(National Curriculum, DfE)

The Abbey View Primary Academy Art and Design curriculum follows a distinctive content, progression and sequencing, to enable our pupils to develop enjoyment on their journey as an artist, as well as feeling well prepared for the next phase of education beyond Abbey View.

It has been designed so that pupils build both their substantive (practical and theoretical) and disciplinary knowledge of art. Pupils specialise in the three areas of making of drawing, painting and sculpture. However, across the academy, they have the opportunity to experience and progress in other areas of art, craft and design at appropriately selected opportunities, principally collage, printing, photography, textiles and ceramics. An understanding of the 7 elements of art (line, tone, colour, form, shape, space, texture) is also developed so that pupils can secure their understanding of what art is and how ideas are developed and refined. They also begin to understand some of the principles of art (pattern, perspective/scale, rhythm/movement). Learning is sequenced so that pupils build fluency within an area, can use this to experiment and then show an authentic visual performance of an issue, topic or theme.

Learning sequences are designed to build pupils creativity, imagination and encourage them to take risks in their learning. They have opportunities to take inspiration from the world around them, other subjects being studied, events that have happened to them in the local, national and international context and from the art work of others.

Artists, movements and experiences have been chosen according to the practical knowledge being developed. In choosing artists, Abbey View Primary Academy has ensured that a wide range of artists have been chosen so that pupils can develop an understanding of art history; traditional, modern and contemporary artworks and artists; artwork and artists of different cultures; and artists of different genders. In approaching our selection of artists in this way, the pupils will develop an appreciation of art and understand its value in different forms.

The core knowledge and small steps which are defined in the units of work our teachers deliver every other half term, make explicit the knowledge and understanding which we want our pupils to learn based on the disciplines and artists they study.