Bledington Primary School Art and Design

INTENT

At Bledington Primary School we want our pupils to love art, craft and design! Our curriculum is designed to engage, inspire and challenge pupils whilst equipping them with the knowledge and skills to be able to experiment, invent and create their own works of art. We want to stimulate creativity and imagination providing visual, tactile and sensory experiences. As pupils progress, they should be able to appreciate how art and design both reflect and shape our history, contributing to the culture, creativity and wealth of our nation.

We aim to ensure that all pupils:

• Have the opportunity to record from first-hand experience and from imagination
• Become proficient in drawing, painting, sculpture and other art, craft and design techniques.
• Develop the ability to manipulate materials and tools.
• Discuss, evaluate and analyse creative works using the vocabulary and language associated with art, craft and design.
• Increase their critical awareness of the roles and purposes of art and design in different times and cultures.
• Foster an appreciation and enjoyment of the visual arts.

IMPLEMENTATION

The teaching and implementation of our Art and Design curriculum is based on the National Curriculum and linked to topics to ensure a well-structured approach. Art is taught weekly in every class and is enhanced by whole school Art workshops, led by local artists, at least three times a year. We also provide a weekly after school Art club, sponsored by Kingham Lodge, which is run by an established local artist. Further opportunities for Art experiences are embraced – recently we have taken part in an art competition held by our Community Shop and exhibited a “Recycled Blossoms” installation at Kingham Lodge during Oxfordshire Artweeks.

Early Years Foundation Stage:   Pupils explore and use a variety of media and materials through a combination of child-initiated and adult-directed activities. They have opportunities to learn to:

• Explore the textures, movement, feel and look of different media and materials
• Respond to a range of media and materials, develop their understanding of them in order to manipulate and create different effects.
• Use different media and materials to express their own ideas
• Explore colour and use for a particular purpose
• Develop skills to use simple tools and techniques competently and appropriately
• Select appropriate media and techniques and adapt their work where necessary

Key Stage 1.  Pupils are taught:

1. To use a range of materials creatively to design and make products
2. To use drawing, painting and sculpture to develop and share their ideas, experiences and imagination
3. To develop a wide range of art and design techniques in using colour, pattern, texture, line, shape, form and space
4.  About the work of a range of artists and designers, describing the differences and similarities between different practices and disciplines, and making links to their own work.  

Key Stage 2. Pupils are taught: 

1. To use Art books to record their observations and use them to review and revisit ideas
2. To improve their mastery of art and design techniques, including drawing, painting and sculpture with a range of materials [for example, pencil, charcoal, paint, clay]
3. To compare and discuss works of art and think about their cultural and historical impact.

IMPACT

By the end of their time with us, we want pupils to have learnt, improved and embedded a range of artistic and design skills. On-going assessments take place throughout the year and teachers use these to inform future lessons; ensuring children are supported and also challenged. EYFS pupils are assessed within Expressive Arts and Design and their progress is tracked using Evidence Me. We want all pupils to be confident to explore, experiment and take risks, placing value on the process and journey that they take, not just on the finished product. Most importantly, we want Bledington pupils to have had and enjoyed a creative outlet- a means of self-expression and enjoyment.

VIDEO OF YEAR 4 AND 5 AT THEIR ART WORKSHOP AT KINGHAM HILL SCHOOL MARCH 2023- PLEASE CLICK ON THE LINK

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SUq5K6tCd0

Watercolour workshop

All classes recently completed a watercolour art workshop with fabulous local artist Emma Cox. Emma taught us new skills and allowed us to experiment. We used different kinds of paper and a variety of brushes to play with techniques such as wet on dry, wet on wet, colour washing and colour merging. We used Autumn colours like orange, red, yellow and tried to see how long we could make a colour last for when drawing patterns and swirls. It was great fun. Everyone’s finished piece is different and our work is really colourful.

By Aron and Macy