Intent

At Berewood, our Art and Design curriculum aims to engage, inspire and challenge all pupils, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to experiment, invent and create their own works of art. We believe art plays a vital role in developing creativity, confidence and self-expression, enabling pupils to communicate ideas, thoughts and feelings in a visual form.

Through a carefully sequenced curriculum, pupils are taught a range of artistic techniques, including drawing, painting, sculpture and printing, using a wide variety of materials and tools. Pupils explore the work of artists, craft makers and designers from different cultures and periods in history, using these as inspiration to develop their own ideas and creative outcomes.

Our Art and Design curriculum is inclusive and ambitious, ensuring all pupils, including disadvantaged learners, are given equal opportunities to access high-quality artistic experiences. Through our school values, we promote positive attitudes to learning, resilience and a growth mindset, encouraging pupils to aspire, take creative risks and develop pride in their work.

How we Teach Art (Implementation)

The Art and Design curriculum at Berewood is carefully mapped across the whole school in line with the National Curriculum, ensuring clear progression of knowledge, skills and vocabulary from EYFS to Year 6. Expressive Arts and Design is embedded within the EYFS curriculum and provides a strong foundation for future learning.

Units of work are planned to ensure progression in key artistic skills and techniques, with learning building on prior knowledge and opportunities provided to revisit and refine skills over time. Each unit follows a consistent five-step approach:

• Exploring the work of a focus artist or designer
• Teaching and practising key skills and techniques
• Planning ideas using sketchbooks
• Creating a final piece
• Evaluating and reflecting on outcomes

Sketchbooks are used across KS1 and KS2 to record observations, practise techniques, develop ideas and evaluate work. Key vocabulary is taught explicitly, enabling pupils to discuss their work and the work of others with increasing confidence.

Art lessons also promote literacy and communication skills, as pupils research artists, share ideas, and analyse and evaluate artwork using appropriate artistic language.

Impact

As a result of the Art and Design curriculum at Berewood, pupils develop a strong foundation of artistic skills and knowledge. They become increasingly confident and proficient in a range of techniques and are able to apply these creatively and independently.

By the time pupils leave Berewood, they will:

• Have experienced a wide range of artistic styles, materials and techniques
• Understand the work of artists and designers from around the world
• Be able to evaluate artwork using appropriate vocabulary
• Show creativity, resilience and pride in their artistic achievements

Pupils leave Berewood with a deeper understanding of how art and design reflect and shape culture and history, and with the skills and confidence needed to continue their creative journey into secondary education and beyond.