Art & Design

"ART is as natural as sunshine and as VITAL as nourishment"

MaryAnn F Kohl

Art and Design stimulates creativity and imagination and is an important area of children’s learning. It provides visual, tactile and sensory experiences and a special way of understanding and responding to the world. It is expected that during their time at Our Lady & St. John's Primary School our pupils are given opportunities to explore and evaluate artists and communicate what they see, feel and think through the use of colour, texture, form, pattern and different materials and processes.

The National Curriculum for art and design aims to ensure that all pupils:

Produce creative work, exploring their ideas and recording their experiences
Become proficient in drawing, painting, sculpture and other art 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.

Art and Design is taught in year group phases over a two-year cycle. It is taught in blocks throughout the year so that children achieve depth in their learning. Teachers have identified the key knowledge and skills of each topic and consideration has been given to ensure progression across topics throughout each year group across the school. By the end of each key stage, children will have covered all objectives that are set out in the national curriculum. Cross-curricular outcomes in art and design are specifically planned for, with strong links made where possible between the history and geography curriculum and POR enabling further contextual learning. Teachers plan entry and exit points for each new topic to engage and enrich children’s learning. Regular school trips and workshops are planned to provide further relevant and contextual learning.

Art and Design at OLSJ: