Art & Design

At Oxclose Primary Academy we believe that pupils should be actively encouraged to explore their own creativity through Art and Design.

We aim to provide a curriculum which is both exciting and varied for our pupils, with opportunities to create their own artistic representations through observation, experimentation and illustration.

It is our view that all pupils have the ability to create wonderful artwork and that their efforts should always be praised and developed through self-reflection and constructive feedback. We feel it is important for pupils to develop skills in the classroom, and broaden their understanding, through research, educational visits or visitors relating to art and design.

By ensuring our pupils access these vital parts of a broad and balanced curriculum, their artistic confidence and skills will build year on year. Our hope is that their experience fosters a love of art and design to prepare them for their next steps in education and employment in a world of work that increasingly seeks out creativity and innovation.

Art and Design is one of our enhancer subjects within school and as such, adds to the driver subjects of History, Geography and Science, and, wherever possible, clearly linked projects will be utilised to allow pupils to enhance their historical, geographical and scientific learning. Following the National Curriculum, our Art and Design Long Term Plan incorporates elements of the Focus Education Skills Curriculum, which has been adapted to make it fit for purpose for our pupils. The skills document identifies knowledge, skills and understanding we want pupils to develop, learn and remember.

The progressive scheme of work ensures pupils are taught the skills (e.g. observation, experimentation and illustration), gives them the techniques (e.g. mark making, drawing, painting, print making, sculpture and textiles) and the opportunity to use their imagination utilising a wide range of media. To deepen their learning, pupils will also study a famous artist, covering a variety of styles and eras which will provide the opportunity for pupils to identify, discuss and replicate different styles and techniques as well as innovate the artwork to make it their own.

There will also be opportunities for pupils to partake in visits and/or masterclasses with key visitors linked to the art and design curriculum. Art and Design is taught each half term, with some elements being blocked. Our curriculum is designed to progressively and continuously develop pupils’ skills and knowledge in art and design throughout their time at Oxclose Primary Academy. Assessment will take place across lessons, at the end of each unit and across the school year. Pupils will be expected to be able to demonstrate mastering artistic skills within the teaching sequence and after the unit has been covered.

Pupils will be able to confidently discuss all aspects of the art and design curriculum that they have been covering and will demonstrate the accomplishment of specific skills in their art and design portfolio. They will have knowledge of specific artists and will be able to critique artwork at a level appropriate to their age group. Pupils will be able to retain the skills and knowledge, and build on this each year to ensure a clear progression of skills.

To enable us to measure the impact, the subject manager and senior leaders will use lesson visits, work scrutinies and pupil voice activities across the year