Intent

At Appleton, we strive for achievement for ALL children by providing a skill based, creative and progressive curriculum, which enables curiosity and innovative thinking and learning, and therefore retention of knowledge.

At Appleton, we believe that art is a vital and integral part of children’s education. It provides them with opportunities to develop a range of ways in which they can share and express their individual creativity, whilst learning about and making links with a wide spectrum of different types of art in our society. Art contributes to children’s personal development in creativity, independence, judgement and self-reflection. Moreover, it enables pupils to develop a natural sense of wonder and curiosity about the world around them and therefore links strongly to our school values.

Children will develop their understanding of the visual language of art with effective teaching and carefully thought-out sequences of lessons and experiences. Understanding of the visual elements of art and design (line, tone, texture, colour, pattern, shape, 3D form) will be developed by providing an accessible and engaging curriculum which will enable children to reach their full potential.
The art curriculum will develop children’s critical abilities and understanding of their own and others’ cultural heritages through studying a diverse range of male and female artists and designers throughout history. Our curriculum provides the children with opportunities to develop life skills that enable them to achieve well as individuals in all walks of society.

Implementation

• At Appleton, Art topics are blocked to allow children to focus on developing their knowledge and skills, studying each topic in depth.
• Art topics generally follow a Research- Skills – Final Piece – Evaluate – structure.
• Each child has a sketchbook. We give the child ownership of their sketchbook in order to foster their sense of creativity. Children use their sketchbooks to make initial sketches, develop skills, record ideas and develop opinions.
• Throughout the Appleton journey, every child is given the opportunity to learn the skills of drawing, painting, printing, sculpture and digital art through the exploration of an initial key artist, craft maker or designer and their work
• Through in-depth discussion, the pupils explore how their art can share commonalities with famous art and use subject-specific vocabulary to discuss key artworks and their own work.
• In the development of confident art critics, the pupils share their opinions and make informed observations about what will improve their own practical work.
•  In KS1 and KS2, skills are planned to be revisited, giving the children the opportunity to extend their knowledge and practice in the context of a variety of artworks from a range of eras.
• Cross-curricular links are promoted to allow all children to deepen their understanding across the curriculum, including the use of technology, and artworks from year group specific historical, geographical and scientific contexts.
• Opportunities for children to visit local art galleries and museums are planned for, as well as visits from local artists.
• Staff develop year group specific long-term curriculum maps which identify when the different subjects and topics will be taught across the academic year.
• Teachers follow a clear progression of skills which ensures all pupils are challenged in line with their year group expectations and are given the opportunity to build on their prior knowledge.
• Opportunities to reflect and develop, including through the use of sketchbooks, and chances for self and peer-assessment are planned into each unit of study in KS1 and KS2.
• Effective CPD and standardisation opportunities are available to staff to ensure high levels of confidence and knowledge are maintained.
• To support teaching, staff access a range of resources and planning including Kapow

In EYFS, children explore and use a variety of media and materials through a combination of child initiated and adult directed activities. They have opportunities to learn to:

• Explore the textures, movement, feel and look of different media and materials
• Respond to a range of media and materials, develop their understanding of them in order to manipulate and create different effects.
• Use different media and materials to express their own ideas
• Explore colour and use for a particular purpose
• Develop skills to use simple tools and techniques competently and appropriately
• Select appropriate media and techniques and adapt their work where necessary

Impact

The impact of our Art curriculum is to promote the opportunity for every child to be an artist, evidenced in a range of ways, including pupil voice, their final pieces and sketchbooks.

By embedding the formal elements, every child is encouraged to be creative, innovative and reflective on their own and others’ practice using the subject-specific vocabulary to support their reasoning.

Through the use of sketchbooks and in-depth discussion around artists, their art and practices, pupils learn that art can be constantly reviewed and developed, further promoting the resilient, independent learners of Appleton.

Achievements are celebrated in classrooms during gallery exhibitions, corridor displays and Art Weeks.

Curriculum progression information: