Art

At Marion Richardson we believe that high-quality Art lessons will give pupils the skills, concepts and knowledge necessary for them to express their ideas and experiences in a visual or tactile form. It stimulates their imagination and is an essential means of personal expression. We aim to inspire children to think innovatively and develop creatively while also providing opportunities for reflection allowing pupils to make informed, critical responses of their own work and that of others. Pupils will begin to develop an awareness of the visual and tactile elements including; colour, pattern and texture, line and tone, shape, form and space. We aim to foster enjoyment and appreciation of the visual arts and develop a knowledge of significant artists.

Art sparks children’s imagination and is a fundamental means of personal expression. At Marion Richardson we provide a positive, caring environment, that nurtures their creativity and ensures every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential. We aim to give pupils the skills, concepts and knowledge necessary for them to express their responses to ideas and experiences in a visual or tactile form. Pupils will develop an appreciation for different artists, craft makers and designers and have the chance to experiment with different media and mediums. We also provide opportunities for reflection and, with increasing sensitivity, pupils should acquire the ability to make informed, critical responses of their own work and that of others.

Essential characteristics of artists

The ability to use visual language skilfully 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.
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, craftmakers and designers.
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.
The ability to reflect on, analyse and critically evaluate their own work and that of others.
A passion for a commitment to the subject.

Art Curriculum Overview 2024-2025

Art Roadmap

Art in the Early Years Foundation Stage

In the Early Years Foundation Stage, Art forms part of the learning children acquire under the ‘Expressive Arts and Design' branch of the Foundation Stage curriculum.

This is broken down into 'Exploring and Using Media and Materials' and 'Being Imaginative'.

Seven Areas of Exploration

What Can We See?
How Can We Explore Colour?
How Can We Build Worlds?
How Can We Explore Materials & Marks?
How Can We Explore 3d Materials?
How Can We Use Our Bodies to Make Art?
How Can We Use Our Imaginations?

Build dexterity skills
Explore materials and mark making in a playful way
Use bodies and imaginations to inspire making
Explore how they can reflect and share their views about what they have seen or made
Explore how art enriches our lives

Art in Key Stage 1 and 2

The breadth of the Art National Curriculum in Key Stage 1 and 2

Key Stage 1

Key Stage 2

Pupils should be taught:

to use a range of materials creatively to design and make products
to use drawing, painting and sculpture to develop and share their ideas, experiences and imagination
to develop a wide range of art and design techniques in using colour, pattern, texture, line, shape, form and space
about the work of a range of artists, craft makers and designers, describing the differences and similarities between different practices and disciplines, and making links to their own work.

Pupils should be taught to develop their techniques, including their control and their use of materials, with creativity, experimentation and an increasing awareness of different kinds of art, craft and design.

Pupils should be taught:

to create sketch books to record their observations and use them to review and revisit ideas
to improve their mastery of art and design techniques, including drawing, painting and sculpture with a range of materials [for example, pencil, charcoal, paint, clay]
about great artists, architects and designers in history.

Have the opportunity to study the work of a range of artists, craft makers and designers, describing the differences and similarities between different practices and disciplines, and making links to their own work.
Develop their understanding of artistic vocabulary and use them effectively when evaluating and analysing work including their own. This will be implemented from EYFS, where children will get a chance to share their creations, explaining the process they have used.
Increase their critical awareness of the roles and purposes of art and design in different times and cultures.
Create sketch books to record their observations and use them to review and revisit ideas.
Use drawing, painting and sculpture to develop and share their ideas, experiences and imagination.
Including the EYFS, will develop a wide range of art and design techniques in using colour, pattern, texture, line, shape, form and space.
Improve their mastery of art and design techniques, using a range of materials [for example, pencil, charcoal, paint, clay].

Children will be become creative learners, who have a working knowledge about the great artists of the world. Using the sketchbooks, creativity and uniqueness will be celebrated and children will become astute at editing and improving the pieces they have created. Pupils will be given the freedom to explore art using their imagination and will have embedded the key art and design skills needed to allow them to produce inventive pieces of art.

Learning Journeys

Learning Journeys detail the overall outcomes for each unit.
Learning Journeys detail the small steps that children will take to achieve the overall outcomes for each unit.
They show how the unit builds on prior learning
They show what children will learn in the future linked to what they are learning now.
Learning Journeys are available on the school website – on the year group page or on the subject page
They include key vocabulary for the unit
They include details of the key content to be covered
If you would like printed copies of any journeys please let us know.