What does Art and Design look like at Meldreth Primary?
We love art and design in our school! We seek to inspire, engage and challenge pupils by equipping them with the knowledge and skills to experiment and create their own works of art. As they progress through the school they will develop a deeper understanding or art and design, exploring the impact it has on the contemporary life and that of different times and cultures.
Our Art and Design curriculum engages, inspires and challenges 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 are able to think critically and develop a more rigorous understanding of Art and Design. They develop an understanding of how Art and Design both reflects and shapes our history whilst continuing to contribute to the culture, creativity and wealth of our nation. We are aware how our Art & Design curriculum is linked to pupil confidence and resilience and promote, and develop these skills.
Our Curriculum Aims
Our curriculum for Art and Design aims to ensure that all pupils have:
- the ability to use visual language (line, shape, pattern, colour and texture) to express emotions, interpret observations, convey insights and accentuate their individuality.
- the ability to communicate fluently in visual and tactile form and develop fine motor skills,
- the ability to explore and invent marks, develop and deconstruct ideas and communicate powerfully though drawings in 2D, 3D or digital media.
- a knowledge and understanding of other artists, craft makers and designers.
- the ability to think and act like creative practitioners.
- independence, initiative and originality.
- the ability to select and use materials and techniques skilfully and inventively to realise their intentions and capitalise on the unexpected.
- the ability to reflect on, analyse and critically evaluate their own work and that of others.
- the opportunity to collaborate across the school.
- a passion and commitment for the subject.
Curriculum Content
Early Years
Expressive arts and design is one of the seven areas of the early years foundation stage and is used to develop a child's imagination, creativity and their ability to use media and materials. Children do this in range of ways including singing songs and making music, dancing, playing with colours, textures and design. All these approaches to expressive arts help children to represent and understand their own feelings and ideas.
Key Stage 1
Pupils are taught to:
- use a range of materials creatively to design and make products
- to use drawing, painting, sculpture and printing to develop and share their ideas, experiences and imagination
- develop a wide range of art and design techniques in using colour, pattern, texture, line, shape, form and space
- about the work of a range of artists, craft makers and designers, describing the differences and similarities between different practices and eras, and making links to their own work
Key Stage 2
Pupils are taught to develop their techniques (including their control and their use of materials) with creativity, experimentation and an increasing awareness of different kinds of art, craft and design. In particular, pupils are taught:
- to create sketch books to record their observations and use them to review and revisit ideas
- to improve their mastery of art and design techniques, including drawing, painting, sculpture and printing with a range of materials [for example, pencil, charcoal, paint, clay]
- about great artists, architects and designers in history
Download our whole school curriculum plan for Art & Design by clicking the link below
