Art and Design

Purpose of study

• At Norton St Nicholas we know that art, craft and design embody some of the highest forms of human creativity.
• We aim to engage, inspire and challenge pupils, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to experiment, invent and create their own works of art.
• Children shdoul know how art and desig both reflect and shape history and contribute to culture (both in the UK and around the world).
• As children progress, they should be able to think critically and develop more understanding of art and design.

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Aims

When children leave Norton St Nicholas they will:

• Produce creative work, exploring their own ideas.
• Proficient in drawing, painting, sculpting and other craft and design techniques.
• Evaluate and analyse creative works using the language of art and design, including their own and others' creative works.
• Know about great artists and designers both past and present, using them as inspiration for their own art and design.

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The curriculum

• In Early Years, children will have a wide range of opportunities to use and explore a variety of materials, tools and techniques, experimenting with colour, design, form and texture. Much of this will be through their explorative play but there are also deliberately planned Art and Design opportunities as children develop motor skills, learn how to cut efficiently and explore colour mixing. Drawing, painting and craft are all key parts of our Early Years Curriculum.
• Throughout Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2, each year group spends time developing drawing skills, painting skills, and design/craft/printing/sculpture. Some of these are deliberately linked ot other areas of learning to add meaning to their work, whilst others have a solely art focus.
• In Key Stage One, children begin to learn about the work of different artists, learn more about colour mixing and explore terms such as tone, texture, expression and patterns.
• In Key Stage Two, children to continue to learn about the work of different artists throughout history, from cave art through to modern-day grafitti.
• Throughout the school, sketchbooks are a key part of children's learning. Children are taught and encourage to use sketchbooks to:
  • Experiment with techniques to see what works and what doesn’t, annotating for their own learning and record keeping. 
  • Practise and try out ideas & techniques 
  • Record observations and research of artists.