Intent:

At Pyrcroft Grange we want every child to flourish in art. Our primary goal is to instil excitement in every student, fostering the confidence to engage in the creation of imaginative and innovative artwork.

In Art, children are expected to be reflective and evaluate their work, thinking about how they can make changes and keep improving. This should be meaningful and continuous throughout the process. Children are encouraged to take risks and experiment and then reflect on why some ideas and techniques are successful or not for a particular project. We also want our children to understand that through self-belief and perseverance will lead them to personal pride and gratification. 

Within this curriculum, pupils will embark on a journey that encourages exploration of their own ideas. Additionally, they will delve into the works of diverse artists, enabling them to evaluate various creative concepts and techniques. Our approach seeks to nurture proficiency in a broad spectrum of artistic skills, encompassing drawing, painting and mixed-media, sculpture and 3D and craft and design.

Furthermore, our curriculum serves as a catalyst for cultural awareness, broadening children's perspectives and nurturing an inherent curiosity about different art forms across the globe.

Implementation:

We use the Kapow scheme of learning provides meticulous long-term planning, ensuring a comprehensive coverage and progressive development of skills and knowledge.

Our curriculum is designed with 5 strands which run throughout. These are: generating ideas, using sketchbooks, making skills, including formal elements (line, shape, tone, texture, pattern, colour), knowledge of artists and evaluating and analysing.

We ensure that key skills are revisited again and again in a spiral model which allows pupils to build on previous learning with increasing complexity.

We recognize the importance of allowing children the space to develop their artistic techniques, emphasizing control and the adept use of various materials. The curriculum promotes creativity and experimentation, fostering an increasing awareness of diverse art forms.

Impact:

Our primary art program is dedicated to cultivating independence and fostering an inquisitive mindset, instilling a genuine thirst for learning within our students. Teachers set and maintain higher expectations, encouraging children to articulate their thoughts using technical vocabulary accurately. Our commitment lies in ensuring that pupils not only acquire knowledge but also comprehend and apply skills, and processes, promoting a deep understanding of art.

Through our curriculum, children enhance their inquiry skills and develop a keen curiosity about the world, recognizing the impact of art and design on their environment. The journey involves empowering children to become confident analysts of their own work, as well as proficient evaluators of both their creations and those of their peers. This process not only nurtures critical thinking but also encourages the expression of well-founded opinions on various works of art.

Our approach places a strong emphasis on character development. Children exhibit enhanced resilience and perseverance as they engage in a continuous cycle of evaluation and improvement of their artistic endeavours. This not only contributes to their growth as artists but also cultivates valuable life skills that extend beyond the realm of art and design.