Art & Design
Intent
Art, craft and design inspire creativity, imagination and self-expression. At Mount Pleasant Primary School, we aim to provide a high-quality art education that engages, challenges and inspires pupils. Children are encouraged to communicate their ideas, feelings and observations through the use of line, shape, tone, texture, pattern and colour.
We want pupils to develop their skills across a range of media and styles, becoming increasingly confident in drawing, painting and other art forms. They will also explore the work of artists and designers, learning about the purpose, history and cultural significance of art and its impact on contemporary life.
Implementation
Art and design is taught through progressive, termly units across the school, in line with the 2014 National Curriculum for England. Teachers use CUSP units to ensure the curriculum is well sequenced and that knowledge and skills build year on year.
The curriculum is structured around four key strands:
- Making skills
- Formal elements - line, shape, tone, texture, pattern and colour
- Knowledge of artists
- Evaluation
These strands are revisited in every unit so that pupils can practise and refine key skills over time. Learning is assessed at the end of each unit against the identified objectives and skills.
Children also benefit from educational visits and artist-led workshops, which enrich their learning and provide opportunities to experience art first-hand. For example, pupils have visited Yorkshire Sculpture Park and Huddersfield Art Gallery, and have taken part in workshops led by local artist Jane Middleton and The Art Room.
Impact
Our art and design curriculum is carefully planned to ensure clear progression in knowledge, skills and vocabulary. By the time pupils leave Mount Pleasant Primary School, they are able to:
- Produce creative work and record their ideas and experiences
- Become proficient in drawing, painting, sculpture and other art, craft and design techniques
- Evaluate and analyse creative works using the language of art, craft and design
- Know about great artists, craft makers and designers, and understand the historical and cultural development of their art forms
Pupil Voice
“Art is the best! I enjoy getting messy and mastering new skills and techniques.” Muhammad Ali (Year 5).
“I like the fact that I can be creative and express myself freely when doing art.” Sarya Hassaan (Year 4).
“I enjoy being able to utilise different skills and techniques when producing my final pieces of artwork,” Ismaeel Khan (Year 3).