Art
“But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.” Isaiah 64:8
God is the Greatest Artist but in our school we aim for all our children to be artists and show their creativity through the art opportunities they have.
Art In Our School
Our Intent
At Ampney Crucis C of E Primary School we believe all children can flourish in Art and Design; that high quality art lessons will inspire children to think innovatively and develop creative procedural understanding. Our Art curriculum enables children to develop their skill using a range of media and materials. Children learn the skills of drawing, painting, printing, collage, textiles, 3D work and digital and given the opportunity to explore and evaluate different creative ideas.
Children will be introduced to a range of works and develop their knowledge of styles and vocabulary used by famous artists. Some of these skills may well be applied to their cross curricular topics, allowing them to use their art skills to reflect on and explore topics in greater depth.
Artwork should be purposeful; be this means of expression or explore the styles of other artists that inspire their own work.
Our Implementation
At Ampney Crucis C of E Primary School we provide a rich environment in which we encourage and value creativity.
Art is a hands-on activity that needs the teacher to be directly involved with the children in the lesson; to set the task, impart knowledge, to lead activities, to monitor and develop the children’s progress, to encourage development and to ensure that each child reaches an appropriate standard.
All teachers plan a sequence of lessons based on a 2-year rolling programme with objectives specifics to the mixed year group and a context of which the objectives are taught linking learning to other subject areas where appropriate.
These learning objectives build on prior learning and develop art skills focusing on the 6 fundamental elements of Art and Design.
- Drawing
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Painting
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Printing
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Collage/textiles
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Sculpture
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Digital Media
Children explore colour, pattern, texture, line, shape, form and space when practising these fundamental elements, developing their creativity and mastery if techniques.
Art in Foundation Stage
At Ampney Crucis C of E Primary School within the Foundation Stage we run continuous provision, where children have free access to all resources and opportunities, allowing them to develop their knowledge, skills and understanding at their own pace and interest.
The children’s learning includes art, music, dance, role-play and imaginative play. The range of experiences encourages the children to make connections between one area of learning and another and so extends their understanding.
Art in Key Stage 1
Pupils are taught:
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To use a rage of materials creatively to design and make products
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To use drawing, painting and sculpture to develop and share ideas, experiences and imagination
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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 practises and disciplines, and making links to their own work.
Art in Key Stage 2
Pupils are 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 are taught:
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To create sketch books to record their observations and use them to review and revisit ideas
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To improve their mastery of art and design techniques, including drawing, painting and sculpture with a range of materials, artists, architects and designers in history.
At Ampney, we have a Art enrichment week, during the Summer Term, where children have the opportunity to take part in art activities, over an extended period of time, on a whole school theme. Local artists and parents work in collaboration with our pupils and staff to provide a memorable experience.
Curriculum Impact
Our Art Curriculum is high quality, well thought out and is planned to show progression. If children are keeping up with the curriculum, they are deemed to be making good or better progress. In addition, we measure the impact of our curriculum through:
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A reflection on standards achieved against the planned outcomes
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A celebration of the learning
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Pupil discussions about their learning.
We aim for our Children to flourish and become creative learners, who have knowledge of local artists and artists of the world.
What is Mastery in Art?
What does Mastery in Art actually look like in our School?
In the Art Curriculum Mastery is when a child is able to research an art movement or artist in greater depth and adapt ideas and processes into their own art. They would display a higher level of technical skill with a broad range of tools and media and think of innovative ways to use this knowledge to enhance creativity and develop a style of their own.
When evaluating their work they are more analytical and work independently to assess and improve their art. They have a greater breadth of knowledge about artists and key art movements and can explain, make judgements and offer personal opinions about works of art.
Using Sketch Books
“Everyone is an artist. The Problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.”
Pablo Picasso
How do we use Sketch books in Our School?
Though the National Curriculum guidance says to use sketchbooks from Key Stage Two we use them from Year 1 upwards.
What is a Sketchbook?
Perhaps a sketchbook is better being referred to as an idea journal or a personal reflection on the art the children are doing at the time.
It is a personal document which plot the children’s thinking process which then leads to an outcome.
A sketchbook can include:
- drawings, notes, key words
- pieces of fabric and materials
- found objects
- photos
- written work
- rubbings
- annotations
We are aiming for our sketchbooks to be exciting to look at, touch and feel and therefore they will not be marked like other work.
Sketchbooks develop critical thinking skills and mastering of techniques.
When the children in our School use their sketchbooks?
Our children’s sketchbooks will be readily available not just in art lessons but other times. Children will be encouraged to sketch at different times during the week perhaps in response to a piece of music, a story or something they have seen.
Warm up activities
Warm-up drawing exercises are important as they can:
- Help make a clear transition, for example between the rest of the school day and a drawing activity.
- Be used to introduce new materials.
- Set the scene.
- Open minds and prevent misconceptions.
- Plant seeds of new ideas or ways of working.
- Provide a way to enable the children to explore through a guided activity.
- Help boost confidence.
- Demonstrate intention.
- Children follow instructions.
- Provide a starting point for later reflection.
- Surprise, wake up, or settle down a jaded class.
Art Week at Ampney Crucis C of E Primary School
We believe that children need hands on experience to develop their artist skills and talents and to learn from professionals in specific areas, hence why we hold art weeks during the summer term.
This also coincides with our Art Exhibition, where children across the school are encouraged to enter their own art, using any median, for an evening exhibition during the week.
From time to time we invite a local artist into school to work with the children on creating various art projects.
In class, there are opportunities to develop sketching skills, studying an artist and look for patterns in other areas of learning such as Forest School.
We are also very fortunate to have a parent who runs a photography club at diifferent points in the year and their work was also displayed at the Summer Exhibtion in 2023.
