Art and Design
At Barlby Bridge School, we believe that Art is a vital and integral part of children’s education. It provides them with opportunities to develop a range of ways in which they can share and express their individual creativity, whilst learning about and making links with a wide spectrum of different types of art. Art contributes to children’s personal development in creativity, independence, judgement, and self-reflection.
Our Art and Design curriculum enables pupils to develop a natural sense of wonder and curiosity about the world around them and links strongly to our school values. Through Art, children are able to practise these whole school values. They use creativity and aspiration in their planning and research of inspiring artists, show resilience during the development of new skills and empathy and respect when evaluating others and their own work.
Continuity and Progression
The Art Curriculum is firmly based on the National Curriculum and the progressive CUSP Art curriculum. It is organised into blocks with each block covers a particular set of artistic disciplines, including drawing, painting, printmaking, textiles, 3D and collage. Vertical progression in each discipline has been deliberately woven into the fabric of the curriculum so that pupils can revisit key disciplines throughout their Primary journey at increasing degrees of challenge and complexity
EYFS: Children access a range of materials and techniques. Creativity is key – children are encouraged to grow their own individuality and discuss their decisions through open questioning.
Intent
It is the intent of Barlby Bridge Primary School to provide an arts curriculum that engages, inspires, and challenges pupils, equipping them with the knowledge, vocabulary and skills to experiment, invent and create their own works of art. As pupils progress through the arts, they should be able to think critically and develop a more rigorous understanding of art and design. They should also know how art and design both reflect and shape our history, and contribute to the culture, creativity, and wealth of our nation through a cross curricular approach. Children will develop their understanding of the visual language of art with effective teaching and carefully thought out sequences of lessons and experiences. Understanding of the visual concepts of art and design (line, tone, texture, colour, pattern, shape, 3D form) will be developed by providing an accessible and engaging curriculum which will enable children to reach their full potential.
Implementation
In addition to the core knowledge required to be successful within each discipline, the curriculum outlines key aspects of artistic development in the Working Artistically section. Each module will focus on developing different aspects of these competencies. This will support teachers in understanding pupils’ development as artists more broadly, as well as how successfully they are acquiring the taught knowledge and skills.
Pupils work in sketch books creating learning pathways which begin with researching inspiring artists or cultural art and learning and developing skills in sketch books which build to a final outcome.
Art is monitored by the subject leader throughout the year in the form of session and book monitoring, looking at outcomes and pupil interviews to discuss their learning and understanding and establish the impact of the teaching taking place.
Impact
At the end of their time at BBS children will have secure substantive and disciplinary knowledge to equip them on their next academic steps. They will be able to apply skills and processes specified in the relevant National Curriculum programmes of study.
Art is monitored by the subject leader throughout the year in the form of book monitoring, looking at outcomes and pupil interviews to discuss their learning and understanding and establishing the impact of the teaching taking place. They will develop their own personal development in the areas of creativity, independence, judgement and self-reflection.
EYFS pupils’ progress and attainment is tracked using the Early Excellence Assessment tracker system, telling us whether each individual child is below expected, at expected or above expected attainment for their age.
Assessment of children’s learning in Art relies on formative monitoring of children’s understanding, knowledge and skills by the class teacher, throughout lessons. This assessment is then used to inform differentiation, support and challenge required by the children.
At Barlby Bridge, we believe that Art and Design should be taught with the same rigour and passion as all other subjects. Because of this, we implement the Curriculum with Unity Schools Partnership Art Sequences of learning.
Of their art curriculum, CUSP say:
We have deliberately built CUSP Art and Design around the principles of evidence-led practice. This is to ensure that pupils are equipped to successfully think, work and communicate like an artist. Unapologetically ambitious, our art curriculum focuses on excellence in this subject through a myriad of media and incredible artists.
Our intention is unmissable; exceptional teacher instruction inspires pupils to acquire knowledge, as an artist, and enable them to skilfully attempt and apply their understanding.
The CUSP Art curriculum is organised into blocks with each block covering a particular set of artistic disciplines, including drawing, painting, printmaking, textiles, 3D and collage. Vertical progression in each discipline has been deliberately woven into the fabric of the curriculum so that pupils can revisit key disciplines throughout their Primary journey at increasing degrees of challenge and complexity.
Click here to see Art Coverage CUSP.
In addition to the core knowledge required to be successful within each discipline, the curriculum outlines key aspects of artistic development in the Working Artistically section. Each module will focus on developing different aspects of these competencies. This will support teachers in understanding pupils’ development as artists more broadly, as well as how successfully they are acquiring the taught knowledge and skills.
To find out more about CUSP art and design, please visit their website, here.
As written in our Art Curriculum Vision Statement, we want our pupils to be themselves and celebrate their successes.
Around our school you will see art proudly displayed on display boards to showcase pupil’s journey with different media and also their final outcomes.
We are currently looking at further ways to showcase our learning in art and design, both within our school community and beyond.
