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Art & Design

 

Intent 

At Alkerden, we believe that Art & Design plays a vital role in a broad and balanced education. We aim to inspire learners to explore their creativity, build confidence, and express ideas, thoughts and feelings through a variety of media. Our curriculum encourages learners to: 

  • Develop technical skills in drawing, painting, sculpture, textiles, print, mixed media and other materials. 

  • Explore their own ideas and imagination, using experiences and influences from the world around them. 

  • Learn about artists, craftspeople and designers from diverse cultures and periods, understanding how art reflects history, society and identity. 

  • Build visual literacy: understand and use the formal elements of art (line, shape, tone, texture, pattern, colour, space, form, composition) to communicate meaning. 

  • Reflect on and evaluate their own work and that of others, making informed artistic decisions and improvements. 

  • Experience art as a journey, one of experimentation, discovery, risktaking and personal development. 

Through this approach, we hope to foster a lifelong appreciation of art, creativity and cultural awareness. 

 

Implementation 

 

  • The Art & Design curriculum runs across all year groups, from Early Years through to the final year of primary. We map skills progressively: each term learners build on prior knowledge and grow their mastery of techniques. 

  • Units are designed around core strands: generating ideas, using sketchbooks, making (practical art and craft skills), learning about artists and evaluating work. This allows learners both structure and freedom to explore.  

  • Learners regularly use sketchbooks to record observations, develop ideas, trial techniques and reflect on progress. This helps them to plan and refine work over time, rather than producing single, oneoff pieces.  

  • Art lessons are practical and exploratory. Learners experiment with a variety of media and materials, painting, drawing, printing, sculpture, textiles, collage, mixed media, to build familiarity and confidence.  

  • The curriculum ensures that learners study influential artists and designers from different cultures and eras. This broadens their cultural understanding and inspires their own creative work.  

  • Across the school, art is connected with other subjects and themes where appropriate: history, geography, science, literature, environment, enabling learners to make crosscurricular links and see art in a wider context. 

 

Impact 

By the time learners leave Alkerden C of E Academy, our Art & Design curriculum will have helped them to: 

  • Produce creative work that reflects their ideas, experiences and imagination, gaining confidence to express themselves visually. 

  • Be proficient in a wide range of techniques: drawing, painting, print, sculpture, textiles and mixed media, with appropriate control and growing mastery. 

  • Understand and apply the formal elements of visual art (line, shape, tone, texture, pattern, colour, space, composition) to communicate meaning and respond to purpose. 

  • Use sketchbooks to generate, develop and refine ideas, showing progress, reflection and growth in their creative thinking. 

  • Know about a diverse range of artists, craftspeople and designers from across history and cultures, recognising the impact of art in societies and understanding different artistic traditions. 

  • Evaluate and analyse creative work (their own and others’) using the language of art and design, discussing strengths, considering improvements and making informed artistic decisions. 

  • View art as a meaningful, enriching and lifelong form of expression, one that nurtures creativity, cultural awareness, confidence, independence and personal voice. 

  • Be well-prepared for future art learning, equipped with skills, knowledge, creative thinking and a strong foundation to build on in secondary school and beyond. 

The impact of our Art & Design curriculum is evident in learners who take pride in their creative achievements, who are confident to explore, experiment and take creative risks, and who see themselves as capable, expressive and imaginative individuals. 

 

 

 

Art & Design Across the Stages 

Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) 

From the earliest years, learners have been given regular access to a wide range of art materials and media. They begin to explore markmaking, colour, texture and simple materials through playbased and adultled activities. This early exposure nurtures curiosity, imagination and a sense of creative freedom. 

Key Stage 1 (Years 1-2) 

Learners build on their early experiences by exploring basic skills in drawing, painting and collage. They use ideas and experiences (from school, home, the world around them) as inspiration, experimenting with different materials, sharing their ideas visually, and beginning to recognise simple formal elements such as colour, line, shape and texture. 

They are introduced to the work of selected artists or craftspeople, and encouraged to think about their own responses and ideas. 

Key Stage 2 (Years 3-6) 

Learners deepen their skills and start to use sketchbooks to plan, develop and refine ideas. They explore a wider variety of techniques and media (painting, print, mixed media, sculpture, textiles, 3D work) and begin to experiment more independently. They consider purpose, style and audience, and learn to adapt their creative choices accordingly. 

Throughout, learners study a range of artists, designers and craftspeople, from different cultures, eras and traditions, building an understanding of art history, cultural diversity and design influence. They also learn to critique, reflect on and evaluate their own work and that of others, using subject-specific vocabulary and concepts. 

Cross-curricular links and themed projects encourage learners to use art to explore social, environmental, historical and cultural ideas, encouraging creativity, critical thinking and personal response. 

Inclusion & Support 

Alkerden values the individuality of every learner. To support this: 

  • Learning is adapted where needed. Practical tasks, scaffolding, visual support, differentiated outcomes or alternative media ensure that all learners, including those with additional needs, can participate and succeed. 

  • We provide challenge for more able and confident learners through richer tasks, ambitious projects and opportunities to show individuality, experimentation and personal style. 

  • Use of sketchbooks and regular reflection helps learners track their progress, build confidence and develop resilience in their creative work. 

  • We aim for equal opportunity: all learners have access to a broad art curriculum, regardless of background, and are encouraged to see their own creativity and identity reflected in their work. 

Extra Resources