Art and Design
The National Curriculum states that:
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.
At Smarden Primary School, we value Art and Design as an important part of the children’s entitlement to a broad and balanced curriculum. Art and Design provides the children with the opportunities to develop and extend skills and an opportunity to express their individual interests, thoughts and ideas. 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 our future, contributing to the culture, diversity, creativity and wealth of our nation.
Aims
The national curriculum for art and design aims to ensure that all pupils:
- produce creative work, exploring their ideas and recording their experiences
- become proficient in drawing, painting, sculpture and other art, craft and design techniques
- evaluate and analyse creative works using the language of art, craft and design
- know about great artists, craft makers and designers, and understand the historical and cultural development of their art forms.
The teaching and implementation of the Art and Design Curriculum at Smarden Primary School is based on the National Curriculum and linked to current and recent topics, where possible, to ensure a well-structured approach to this creative subject. The children are constantly exposed to a wide and diverse range of art forms and artists. This includes, creating sculptures from recycled ocean plastics, drawing underneath the desks, in the dark, to imitate the Stone Age cave painters, huge murals inspired by both early Mayan carvings and modern graffiti, to name just a few. The work of local, national and international artists are explored to develop the children's learning. Further development for the children's knowledge and experiences comes in the form of visits to galleries and visiting artists and gallery experts, to provide inspiration. The children's learning is further enhanced with an end of year exhibition and the opportunity for collaborative working and can take pride in contributing to the whole school art environment.