Art
At St James' Lanehead, we aim to provide a high-quality art education that encourages pupils to build on their ability to ‘appreciate and interpret what they observe, communicate what they think and feel, and make what they imagine and invent’.
Our Art and Design curriculum is designed to unlock creativity by providing a clear framework of progression and well-sequenced lessons that inspire pupils’ to explore, experiment and express themselves using a variety of materials and techniques. Unit outcomes are open-ended, allowing pupils’ to make independent decisions, take creative risks and develop their unique artistic voices.
Our Art and Design curriculum is structured around five strands that run through each unit of work:
· Generating ideas – exploring, visualising and developing original ideas in response to a range of stimuli.
· Using sketchbooks – recording, experimenting, refining and reflecting throughout the creative process. Sketchbooks are used from year 1 through to year 6. These will travel through school with the pupils.
· Making skills – becoming proficient in a range of artistic techniques and media, including drawing, painting, sculpture and craft.
· Knowledge of artists – learning about significant artists, craft makers and designers from a diverse range of cultures, periods and traditions.
· Evaluating and analysing – using artistic vocabulary to reflect on and discuss their own work and that of others critically and thoughtfully.
To ensure progression in making skills across a range of media, the curriculum is organised into the following key areas:
· Drawing – Pupils explore mark-making in all its forms, using line, tone, shape and texture to express their ideas. They work with a wide range of materials, including graphite, charcoal, pens and pastels, gradually building control and fluency.
· Painting and mixed media – Pupils develop their painting skills, including colour mixing, layering and working on different surfaces. Pupils also learn to combine paint with other media, such as collage, print or digital manipulation, to enhance expression and impact.
· Sculpture and 3D – Pupils investigate ways to express ideas through three-dimensional forms, learning how to construct, shape, and join a variety of materials to bring their imagined or observed ideas into physical form.
· Craft and design – Pupils to explore a broad range of artistic practices beyond fine art, including textile work, architecture, graphic design and photography. The emphasis is on designing and making for purpose, learning how art functions in real-world contexts and industries.
These key areas are taught over a two-year rolling programme for pupils in KS1, Lower Key Stage 2 and Upper Key Stage 2. Pupils in EYFS are encouraged to explore and play with a wide range of media, materials, tools and techniques throughout their Learning Journey in Reception.
Art Showcase
At the end of the Summer Term, the whole school comes together to celebrate our artistic expression within our class galleries. Each class sets up their own class gallery, focussed upon their assigned artist. Classes will share their journey of exploration regarding their focus artists, the experimentation of their artist's techniques and media, as well as proudly displaying their finished artwork inspired by their focus artist.