Impact
At Luton, we aim to teach the children the development and progression of skills and knowledge which are needed to embark on a personal creative journey which will promote self-esteem, self-expression as well as developing problem solving and other transferable skills. Artistic skills are the heart of the curriculum where the main knowledge is in the mediums of drawing, painting, mixed media, printing and 3D form, which are sequentially built upon. Our Young artists will build a strong foundation of Art and Design skills by giving the children the opportunity to explore, develop and communicate their personal responses to experiences. They will also gain a knowledge and understanding of historic, modern and contemporary artists.
Implementation
In KS1 the children will develop a wide range of art and design techniques by introducing and exploring the formal elements (line, shape, space, form, tone, texture, pattern, colour and composition). They will use a range of materials to create works of art. Children are given the opportunity to explore materials and techniques through a hands-on approach without the fear of making mistakes. The pupils will learn about the work of a range of artists, describing the differences and similarities between different practises and approaches. Sketchbooks will be used to help explore and practise and record their progress.
In KS2 the children will improve their understanding of art and design techniques through drawing, painting and 3D work with a range of materials and techniques. They will continue to learn about great artists which will act as stimulus for their own creative ideas. The children will continue to develop the use of their sketchbooks and use them to review and revisit ideas as well as using them to present their way of thinking and exploring new ideas.
Across the school, children will be able to use a wide range of vocabulary and gain ‘critical thinking’ when discussing art and design, not only regarding art, artists and genres but also when responding to their own work.
Impact
The children’s learning in Art & Design is recorded in their sketchbooks and will show evidence of all four stages: Development of ideas, creating, knowledge and evaluation. Children are encouraged to treat their sketchbooks like journals (visual diaries) and their thoughts and learning are recorded within their books. Each child is unique and each sketchbook should be unique, enabling children to develop their independence and creativity. The sketchbooks are important for developing basic concepts and allow time for the children to practise and develop ‘roughs’ as well as being a journal to collect information and references. Ideas and approaches can be easily reviewed and revisited.
Teachers will assess children’s knowledge, understanding and skills in art by making observations of the children working during lessons. Children are to be encouraged to be critical of their own work, highlighting their own next steps. Each project will provide an opportunity to see what knowledge the children have retained and what skills they have mastered. There will be clear start and endpoints which will help to make judgements about each child’s progress.
