Art & Design

Intent:

At Rowde, we believe that Art and Design provides every child with an important opportunity to explore, create and express their ideas. It supports our vision of Learn • Grow • Love by enabling children to learn about themselves and the world around them, grow in confidence and creativity, and develop an appreciation of the ideas, experiences and cultures of others.

Our curriculum is designed to inspire curiosity, imagination and enjoyment while developing children’s artistic knowledge and practical skills. Children learn about significant artists, craftspeople, designers and artistic movements from different times, cultures and traditions. They explore how art can communicate ideas, feelings, beliefs and responses to the world.

We want every child to see themselves as an artist: someone who can observe carefully, experiment courageously, make thoughtful choices and reflect on how their work can be improved.

Implementation:

Art and Design is taught from the Early Years to Year 6 through a carefully sequenced, knowledge-rich curriculum. Children progressively develop their understanding of drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, mixed media and digital art, while revisiting important knowledge about colour, line, shape, tone, texture, pattern, form, space and composition.

Each unit is connected to significant artists, craftspeople, designers or artistic movements. Children learn about their influences, techniques and cultural or historical context before applying this knowledge to their own original work. Links between artists, techniques and previous learning are made explicit so that children develop an increasingly connected understanding of art.

Children use sketchbooks to explore ideas, study artwork, practise techniques, experiment with materials and develop compositions. They are encouraged to take creative risks, make informed choices and refine their work in response to reflection and feedback. Drawing is central to the curriculum and is used throughout units to observe, plan, explore and communicate ideas.

Key vocabulary and carefully selected “Need to Know” statements help children remember the essential artistic knowledge within each unit. High-quality examples establish ambitious expectations, while scaffolding and adapted resources enable all children, including those with SEND, to access the same rich curriculum. Children are also given opportunities to deepen their thinking and develop increasingly individual responses.

Where possible, children’s work is shared through displays and authentic outcomes within the school and wider community, giving purpose and value to the creative process.

Impact:

Children leave Rowde with secure knowledge of a diverse range of artists, craftspeople, designers and artistic movements. They understand how art reflects and shapes cultures, communities and periods of history.

They confidently use a growing range of materials, tools and techniques and can apply their knowledge when developing original artwork. They are able to observe carefully, generate ideas, experiment, make purposeful artistic choices and refine their work.

Children can discuss and evaluate their own artwork and the work of others using appropriate artistic vocabulary. They recognise that artists may interpret ideas in different ways and develop the confidence to explain their own creative decisions.

Most importantly, children leave Rowde seeing art as a meaningful form of expression and themselves as creative, reflective and courageous artists, well prepared for the next stage of their education.

Art and Design PolicyArt and DT Curriculum and OverviewProgression in Art and Design Skills

Art and DT 'Need to Know' OverviewArt Vocabulary Progression