Art and Design
Intent
At Beaconsfield we believe that Art & Design gives children the opportunity to explore the world around them, to learn about and appreciate their cultural heritage, to collaborate, be creative and express themselves in ways that many other subjects don't allow them to.
The aim of our Art & Design curriculum is to create self-confident and creative artists who demonstrate the following essential characteristics:
- The ability to use visual language skillfully and convincingly (for example, line, shape, pattern, colour, texture, form) to express emotions, interpret observations, convey insights and accentuate their individuality.
- The ability to communicate fluently in visual and tactile form and express their views effectively through speaking, listening, reading and writing opportunities.
- The ability to draw confidently and adventurously from observation, memory and imagination.
- The ability to explore and invent marks, develop and deconstruct ideas and communicate perceptively and powerfully through purposeful drawing in 2D, 3D or digital media.
- An impressive knowledge and understanding of other artists, craft-makers and designers from a range of time periods and areas of the world.
- The ability to think and act like creative practitioners by using their knowledge and understanding to inform, inspire and interpret ideas, observations and feelings.
- Independence, initiative and originality which they can use to develop their creativity.
- The ability to select and use materials, processes and techniques skilfully and inventively to realise intentions and capitalise on the unexpected, drawing on previous knowledge to support them.
- The ability to reflect on, analyse and critically evaluate their own work and that of others, enabling them to experiment and persevere, which links to the development of Growth Mindset.
- A passion for and a commitment to the subject.
The Curriculum
Our Art & Design curriculum has been designed to meet the needs of our children through developing their English skills, widening their vocabulary and promoting a love of reading in all subjects. The curriculum exposes the children to a range of art from different mediums (e.g. sculptures, painting and textiles) and periods of time (e.g. the Impressionist era) and supports them in accessing areas of cultural-capital. We aim to allow children to have an improved understanding, appreciation and respect for cultural differences which is developed through pupils’ participation in art exhibitions and displays for the wider school community, drawing on material from around the world. Lessons are planned to develop the growth of characteristics such as tolerance, perseverance, cooperation and creativity by ensuring all pupils have access to a range of practical, analytical, experimental, creative and evaluative opportunities.
Threshold concepts are the ‘big ideas’ that underpin each area of the Art & Design curriculum. Children return to these concepts in a wide breadth of topics, gradually deepening their understanding of each one over time. Knowledge categories make up each threshold concept. These help to strengthen their understanding and give pupils a way of expressing this. They also help the children make connections with information they have learnt in different units and year groups.
Please find the Art & Design overviews for each year group below:
Year 1 - click here
Year 2 - click here
Year 3 - click here
Year 4 - click here
Year 5 - click here
Year 6 - click here
Assessment in Art & Design
The primary reason for assessment is to provide the pupil and the teacher with vital information which can then be used to improve future teaching and learning. Teachers will use a range of strategies to gain information about how well a child has understood a concept during the lesson including the use of effective questioning and the answers given in POP quizzes at the beginning of each lesson. Appropriate verbal and written feedback and peer or self-assessment tasks are then used to provide children with the information they need to continue to make rapid progress.