Art and Design
A high-quality Art and Design education embodies some of the highest forms of human creativity. It will 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.
(National Curriculum 2014)
Intent
At Bretherton Endowed CE Primary School, our intent is to inspire and nurture every child's creativity, imagination and individuality through an engaging and ambitious Art and Design curriculum. We aim to develop confident young artists who enjoy experimenting, taking creative risks and expressing their own ideas through a broad range of materials, techniques and processes. Our bespoke curriculum ensures that pupils are introduced to a diverse range of influential artists, designers and craftspeople from different backgrounds, cultures and time periods, helping them to understand the importance of art in the world around them. We encourage children to become curious, independent thinkers who can observe, interpret and appreciate art, whilst developing practical skills and a personal creative style. Our inclusive curriculum provides opportunities for every child to achieve their potential and develop a lasting appreciation and enjoyment of the arts.
Implementation
Our Art and Design is delivered through a carefully planned, progressive curriculum that builds upon children's experiences and skills from EYFS through to Year 6. Learning begins with opportunities for exploration, mark-making and creative expression in the early years, providing strong foundations for future artistic development. As pupils progress, they experience a wide variety of media, techniques and processes, developing their skills through practical, investigative and creative activities. Sketchbooks are an important part of learning, allowing children to experiment, record ideas, reflect on their work and make improvements over time. Lessons provide opportunities to study and respond to a diverse range of artists, explore different artistic styles and make meaningful cross-curricular links. We have a dedicated Arts Council made up of pupils in Key Stage 2 who champion the arts for younger pupils and lead assemblies following Council trips to galleries and theatre shows. Learning is also enriched through whole-school Arts Weeks, visits from professional artists and theatre specialists, and opportunities to engage with the wider community. We make meaningful links to other curriculum areas, cultures and celebrations, ensuring that art is engaging, inclusive and inspiring for all. Teachers adapt learning to reflect pupils' interests and needs, ensuring all children are supported and challenged appropriately.
Impact
Through our Art and Design curriculum, we aim for pupils to develop a secure foundation of artistic knowledge, practical skills and confidence that they can build upon throughout their education. Children should be able to experiment independently, make informed creative choices and communicate their ideas through a variety of artistic forms. As they progress through school, pupils demonstrate increasing control and understanding of materials, techniques and processes, alongside an ability to discuss, evaluate and reflect upon their own work and that of others. Progress is monitored through regular sketchbook reviews, lesson observations, teacher assessments, pupil discussions and the celebration of completed work. Vocabulary development and understanding are assessed throughout each unit, while moderation opportunities and our whole-school portfolio help staff recognise progression and maintain consistent expectations. Pupil voice, Arts Council feedback, displays, enrichment activities and links with our local high school also helps us evaluate the effectiveness of our curriculum. Ultimately, we want children to leave Bretherton as creative, confident and enthusiastic learners who value art and feel proud of their individual achievements.
We were honoured to be nominated for the Outstanding Arts in Primary Schools at the 2023 Educate Awards in Liverpool.
We were further nominated in the Subject Leader category at the YPO Education Today Awards which took place in December 2024.
We also were granted the 'GOLD' ArtsMark Award in December 2024!
Actions for Academic Year 2026/2027
- Ensure all Art Lesson Plans are uploaded to the OneDrive under the relevant Art plans folder for Cycle A.
-
Upload 'What a Good One Looks Like' (WAGOLL) exemplars of work throughout Cycle A for teachers to assist assessment.
- Arts Council to lead Arts Week in May 2027 including curating a final gallery of work.
Art Subject Leader: Miss Lesley Hymers
History of subject development
Over the last 3 years we have worked hard on our Art and Design curriculum to ensure that key skills are mapped and are progressive throughout our classes. We have identified a requirement to increase the diversity of artists and styles of artwork that pupils experience, to ensure that our children are exposed to a wide variety of art, artists and media.
We have also reflected on the content and have identified the 'must' teach topics where Art and Design is explicitly taught and where we offer additional art-focused sessions. These bridge other subjects and topics to offer greater depth and content in the application of skills and knowledge. This maximises children's educational offer and allows for a balance of planned skills and knowledge, with creative opportunities in other subjects.
Files to Download
