Art Curriculum Intent, Implementation and Impact 

 

Intent  

At MRA, we have designed a curriculum for the arts with the intent that our children will, from the early years, develop a sense of creativity, self-expression, excellence and high attainment.    

  

  

We will deliver a curriculum that;   

• Exposes all children to the arts, giving them a chance to experience, and participate in a range of creative activities and events.    
• Gives children entitlement to a wide range of experiences in the arts as part of and in addition to the curriculum.    
• Gives children the opportunity to explore, develop and communicate their personal, aesthetic response to experience.    
• Develops their knowledge and skills within a wide range of arts activities.   

• Introduces them to an appreciation of the arts that will last a lifetime.    
• Relate our art teaching to focus artists from different genre and periods of history in order to link it to our over-arching themes and history curriculum 
• Give our children a clear understanding of approaches to the arts from a wide variety of cultures and places across the globe 
• Develops their appreciation of the diverse cultural heritage within the school and local community.    
• Helps them make personal interpretations of what they have experienced.    

• Encourages children to express themselves creatively using a wide range of media and situations.    
• Ensure a secure progression of skills from EYFS to Year 7 

    

  

Implementation   

The curriculum incorporates the statutory requirements of the National Curriculum 2014 and other experiences and opportunities which best meet the learning and developmental needs of the children in our school.   

The teaching, learning and sequencing of the curriculum: 

All children follow a program of progressive skills in art and Design technology designed using Focus Education.  These take place in discrete art and design lessons which have been linked to the wider curriculum to create context and also as a means of communication in other wider curriculum subjects.  Art skills are taught across:  drawing, painting, textiles, 3D/Sculpture, collage, printing, digital art and sketchbooks starting from Y2 –6.  Wherever possible first hand experiences and real things are used to stimulate art and design activities with each discipline being studied through the lens of a focus artist with the opportunity to make comparisons of work across a variety of cultures across the globe.  This takes the form of contemporary 20th and 21st century artists as well as more traditional ones from the periods being studied in our History lessons, that are perhaps more relevant to children today.   

Teaching is done in whole class groups followed by group and individual work.  New techniques and skills are modelled and examples of work are shown to the children.    

In group and individual work, pupils have the opportunity to investigate, explore and develop ideas and techniques. They are also involved in evaluating their work, celebrating success and identifying areas for improvement.   

   

Art activities are differentiated to ensure that all pupils can access the tasks and have an appropriate level of challenge. Pupils with particular talents are given opportunities to extend them. Opportunities for using and extending art skills are built into lessons in other subjects in order to apply their knowledge, skills and understanding.  

  

Cross curricular opportunities for further learning and development in the arts are built into planning of all subjects as a means of enhancing the children’s learning opportunities. These may be in the form of visiting performing arts groups, museums, galleries and other venues.   

  

In the EYFS there is continuous provision of art and design opportunities: these activities make important contributions to children’s development in the areas of Expressive Arts and Design and Communication and Language. They are also important in children’s Personal, Social and Emotional development. Art is covered in art lessons, continuous provision and as a means of communication and learning in other curriculum areas.   

  

Impact   

  

Each pupil will;   

   

• experience a broad, balanced Art and Design curriculum, with an emphasis on the development of understanding and skills in art and design 
• experience art through other areas of the curriculum.    
• be given a wide range of opportunities to express themselves creatively.   
• be given the opportunity to develop skills and interests in out of hours learning.    

• begin to develop awareness of the emotional impact the arts have on themselves and on an audience.  
• Be able to draw conclusions and make comparisons of art across the globe, understanding its social significance and how a multitude of cultures inspire creation in Britain