At Kirkby Thore Primary School we aim to provide a high-quality art and design education that engages, inspires and challenges pupils, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to experiment, invent and create their own works of art, craft and design.
Art is taught to all children in school on a weekly basis (alternating half termly with Design Technology) to develop key skills, promote enjoyment of Art and embed the purpose and importance of the subject. The core aims of the National Curriculum will be addressed through carefully planned sequences of lessons based around the work of famous artists and linked to a corresponding area of study in either history or geography to help our pupils understand the significance and historical and cultural development of different art forms. The production of creative work, development of proficient skills and techniques, evaluation and analysis of their own work and that of other people will become a familiar approach to the subject, ensuring depth and quality of teaching and learning. As well as these bespoke lessons, we will incorporate Art and Design elements alongside other subjects. History might see pupils creating designs, sculptures and models based on Ancient Egypt or designing word-art collages in Geography as evidence of key vocabulary knowledge.
We aim to use local influences and local artists (for example Andy Goldsworthy sculptures and Georgia O Keefe inspired Pennine landscapes) to access different styles of art and develop our own interests and preferences. As pupils progress, we ensure they can think critically and develop a more rigorous understanding of art and design. Sketchbooks are developed from the Early Years as evidence not only of artistic achievement but of the processes and prior learning about famous artists that have been involved in the creation of the final piece. Lesson planning follows a disciplined approach so that enough time is allowed for each part of this process and children have time to refine their work. Reflection and celebration are encouraged in the final lesson with pupils highlighting positives about their favourite parts of each other’s and their own work.
