Intent

Participating in art activities helps children to gain the tools necessary for understanding human experience, adapting to and respecting others' ways of working and thinking, developing creative problem-solving skills, and communicating thoughts and ideas in a variety of ways. Studies have shown that participating in artistic activities can stimulate both sides of the brain and increases the capacity of memory, attention and concentration. This helps to develop skills in all other areas of the curriculum, especially reading, maths and science. At St Anselm’s, we aim to develop the creative, technical and practical expertise needed to engage in artistic activities with confidence and enjoyment. Wherever possible, we endeavour to link any learning in this subject to other areas of the curriculum, particularly those subjects within the creative arts. Art education also provides pupils with opportunities to develop personal attributes of Leadership, Organisation, Resilience, Initiative and Communication.

Implementation

The Art and Design curriculum at St Anselm’s provides the children with the opportunities to develop and extend their creative skills and to express their individual interests, thoughts and ideas. Our aim is that, as pupils progress through the school, they should begin to think critically and develop a more rigorous understanding of art and design.

Key skills and knowledge for Art and Design have been carefully mapped across the school to ensure continuity and progression across each year group, between year groups and key stages.

One unit is taught each term, thus covering three units per year.

Unit 1: Formal elements of Art covering:

• Colour
• Line
• Shape
• Pattern
• Texture
• Tone

Unit 2: Art and Design Skills covering:

• Drawing
• Painting
• Design
• Craft
• Printing
• Collage
• Sculpture

Unit 3: Consolidating units

Children are also exposed to Art appreciation, exploring different artists and their work and different art styles.

Impact

We ensure that all pupils:

• Are given the opportunities to achieve the best they possibly can, whatever their ability;

• Are taught the skills, concepts and knowledge necessary for them to express their ideas and responses in a visual or tactile form;
• Develop their ability to observe, investigate, respond to and record the world around them through a growing variety of forms and media;
• Develop an understanding of the work of established artists, crafts people and designers, from a variety of cultures and genres, and then apply this knowledge to their own work;
• Develop the ability to use their experiences within this subject to extend and enrich other curriculum areas.

The Art and Design curriculum at St Anselm’s enables children to communicate what they see, feel and think through the use of colour, texture, form, pattern and different materials and processes. The children become actively involved in shaping their environments through art and design activities.