Art and Design

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“I found I could say things with colour and shapes that I couldn’t say any other way – things I had no words for.”

- Georgia O’Keeffe

Our Goal

At English Martyrs, our art program aims to inspire students and build their confidence to create their own works of art. We want to nurture their talents, encourage them to express their ideas, and teach them about art and artists from different cultures and history. Our curriculum meets the National Curriculum (2014) targets.

How we teach Art

Our art curriculum is organized into blocks, each focusing on disciplines like drawing, painting, printmaking, textiles, 3D art, and collage. Students revisit these disciplines throughout their primary years, tackling more complex challenges over time.

Key aspects of artistic development such as shape, line, color, value, form, texture, and space are emphasized. Activities are designed to enhance students' vocabulary and ability to discuss art meaningfully.

Our curriculum has five main strands:

1. Substantive knowledge, including artists
2. Disciplinary knowledge, including formal elements of art (line, shape, texture, color, form, space, tone)
3. Practical knowledge, including idea generation and creating art
4. Using sketchbooks
5. Evaluating and analyzing art

Teachers adapt lessons to create cross-curricular links and encourage creativity and independent outcomes. Lessons are practical, promote experimentation, and are adaptable for all students.

Impact

Our art curriculum engages children in evaluating and discussing their work, helping them understand and improve their artistic outcomes. Continuous assessment allows teachers to monitor progress and provide guidance.

Students will leave English Martyrs with various art techniques, confidence, and creativity, ready for Key Stage 3 and beyond. They will:

• Create and explore their ideas and experiences.
• Be skilled in drawing, painting, sculpture, and other art techniques.
• Evaluate and analyze art using specific language.
• Know about great artists and the cultural history of art.
• Meet the national curriculum expectations for Art and Design.