Art and Design
Art and Design Curriculum
At Bitham Brook School, our Art and Design curriculum aims to inspire and challenge pupils to become creative, confident and thoughtful artists. We want children to develop the knowledge and skills to experiment, invent and create their own works of art, craft and design, while learning to appreciate and evaluate the work of artists and designers.
Our curriculum is carefully sequenced so that pupils build on their knowledge and skills as they progress through the school. Children are given opportunities to work with a wide range of materials, techniques and artistic processes, including drawing, painting, sculpture, ceramics, printmaking, collage, textiles, craft and installation.
What do children learn in Art and Design?
Our curriculum develops three important areas of knowledge:
- Knowledge about art – children learn about artists, art movements, styles and genres from different periods and cultures. They explore the ideas, themes and purposes behind works of art and discover how artists have used different materials and processes.
- Practical knowledge – children learn how to use different materials, tools and techniques. They develop their understanding of the formal elements of art: line, tone, shape, colour, form, pattern and texture.
- Understanding and talking about art – children learn to look closely at, discuss and evaluate works of art. They develop the vocabulary and confidence to explain their opinions and respond thoughtfully to the work of others.
Developing as artists
As children progress through the school, we want them to become increasingly fluent, experimental and independent in their artwork. They will develop a growing range of techniques and ways of working, experiment with different materials and ideas, and increasingly use art to communicate their own thoughts, feelings and experiences.
Children are encouraged to ask questions such as:
- How is this artwork made?
- What is the artist trying to communicate?
- Why might the artist have created this?
- What do I think about this artwork?
- How can I develop my own ideas?
They learn that there is no single way to create art and are encouraged to experiment, take creative risks and develop their own ideas.
Art in the Early Years
In the Early Years, children develop the foundations for future learning in Art and Design through exploring and using materials and expressing their ideas creatively.
Children have opportunities to:
- explore and experiment with a range of materials;
- develop their fine motor skills through drawing, painting, cutting, tearing and manipulating materials;
- develop control when using tools such as pencils, paintbrushes and scissors;
- explore colour, shape, pattern, texture and mark-making;
- use art and creativity to communicate their ideas, thoughts and experiences;
- create artwork that has meaning to them.
As children move into Reception and beyond, they become increasingly confident and independent in selecting and using materials and techniques.
Our aim
We want every child to leave Bitham Brook with a love of art and creativity, an understanding of the work of artists and designers, and the confidence to express their own ideas.
Through Art and Design, children learn not only how to make art, but also how to look at, think about, discuss and respond to art.