Art & Design

Text

Exploring creativity, developing skills and expressing ideas

At Bosley St Mary's CE Primary School, we believe that every child is an artist, with the imagination, creativity and potential to express themselves through art.

Our Art and Design curriculum encourages children to explore ideas, experiment with materials and develop their own creative responses to the world around them. Through studying the work of artists, craftspeople and designers, children discover different techniques, traditions and perspectives, developing an appreciation of art across cultures and throughout history.

We aim to develop confident, curious and creative young artists who take pride in their work, embrace experimentation and recognise that art provides a powerful means of communication and self-expression.

How We Teach Art and Design

Our curriculum combines explicit teaching of artistic knowledge and techniques with opportunities for exploration, experimentation and creative expression.

We place particular emphasis on:

• Drawing: Developing observational skills, control and confidence through the use of line, shape, tone, texture and proportion.
• Painting and colour: Exploring colour theory, mixing, application and a range of painting techniques.
• Sculpture and three-dimensional art: Investigating form, space, texture and materials to create three-dimensional work.
• Printmaking and mixed media: Experimenting with different processes, materials and techniques to create original artwork.
• Artists and artistic traditions: Learning about significant artists, craftspeople and designers from different periods, cultures and backgrounds.
• Creative thinking and evaluation: Developing ideas, making artistic choices, reflecting on outcomes and explaining creative decisions.
• Artistic vocabulary: Using accurate subject-specific language to discuss techniques, materials and works of art.

Children develop their knowledge and skills through teacher modelling, guided practice, practical exploration and increasingly independent creative work.

Our Curriculum Approach

At Bosley St Mary's, we have developed a carefully sequenced, two-year rolling Art and Design curriculum based on Oak National Academy's curriculum resources.

We have chosen Oak because of its evidence-informed, knowledge-rich approach, developed with input from subject specialists and curriculum experts. Its carefully structured learning supports progression in artistic knowledge, practical techniques, vocabulary and creative understanding.

We have thoughtfully selected and adapted the curriculum to reflect the needs of our children, our mixed-age classes and our unique setting, whilst ensuring coverage of the National Curriculum.

Our approach combines Oak's curriculum design with opportunities for creative exploration, practical experimentation and inspiration from artists and the world around us, ensuring that art is ambitious, inclusive and meaningful for every learner.

Thinking and Working Like an Artist

We encourage children to understand that creating art is a process of exploration, practice, decision-making and reflection.

Children learn to:

• Observe carefully and record their ideas through drawing and other visual forms.
• Experiment with different materials, tools and techniques.
• Develop and refine artistic skills through practice.
• Explore the work of artists and use their ideas as inspiration.
• Make creative choices and express their own ideas and feelings.
• Reflect on their work, recognise successes and consider how it might be developed further.

As children progress through school, they develop increasing confidence, independence and control in their artistic work, building the skills to communicate their ideas creatively and effectively.

Art Beyond the Classroom

Our rural setting and natural surroundings provide rich opportunities for artistic inspiration.

We encourage children to observe and respond to the world around them, exploring natural forms, landscapes, colours, textures and patterns through drawing, painting and other creative processes.

Where appropriate, art makes meaningful connections with other curriculum subjects, helping children explore historical periods, cultures, environments and ideas through creative expression.

We celebrate children's artistic achievements and encourage them to take pride in sharing and presenting their work.

Art and Design for Every Learner

We believe that every child should have opportunities to experience, enjoy and succeed in art.

Through clear modelling, accessible resources, appropriate scaffolding and carefully planned challenges, we ensure that all children can develop artistic knowledge, practical skills and creative confidence.

We encourage children to experiment, take creative risks and recognise that artists develop their work through exploration, reflection and practice.

Art provides valuable opportunities for children to express themselves, develop resilience and discover strengths and talents that may not always be evident in other areas of learning.

Our ambition is for every child to leave Bosley with the knowledge, skills and confidence to express themselves creatively, an appreciation of art and artists, and the curiosity and imagination to continue exploring the world through art.