Intent, Implementation and Impact

At Greengate Junior School we believe that art education is important as it stimulates creativity, imagination and inventiveness. We aim to give pupils the knowledge and skills to experiment, invent and create their own works of art in a visual or tactile form.

We will help pupils develop lively, enquiring minds and as they progress, encourage them to think critically and make informed responses to their own work and that of others. There is great pleasure to be derived from art and design and pupils will learn how it shapes our history and contributes to the world around them.

Aims of Art and Design:

In accordance with the 2014 National Curriculum Greengate Junior School strives to ensure that all pupils; Produce creative work, explore their ideas and record their experiences. Become proficient in drawing, painting, sculpture and other art, craft and design techniques. Evaluate and analyse creative works using the language of art, craft and design. Know about great artists, craft makers and designers and understand the historical and cultural development of their art forms.

Subject Content:

At Key stage 2, pupils should be taught to develop their techniques, including their control and their use of materials, with creativity, experimentation and an increasing awareness of different kinds of art, craft and design. Pupils should be taught:

• To record their observations in sketchbooks and use them to review and revisit ideas.
• To improve their mastery of art and design techniques, including drawing, painting and sculpture with a range of materials (e.g. pencil, charcoal, paint and clay)
• About great artists, architects and designers in history.

How are we going to teach it?

• Class teachers are responsible for covering the key skills as set out in the ‘Progression in skills’ document.
• Links are often made with other areas of the curriculum and art and design is used to enhance them.
• The art and design subject leader will monitor and evaluate medium term planning and individual sketchbooks.
• The Affective Curriculum projects (Spring term) incorporate art and design activities using a wide range of methods and skills.
• Our approach is flexible but fulfils the requirements set out by the Curriculum and the ‘Progression in skills’ document.

How are we going to record, assess and evaluate?

• Teachers will use professional judgement based upon criteria such as; pre-knowledge of the child, prior learning, expectations of the individual and how they have progressed so far.
• Assessment will be supportive and will be done through a range of techniques, e.g. observation, discussion, listening to children as they work and looking at the finished product.
• Pupils will be made aware of expectations for each piece of work, project or set progression challenges.
• Class teachers will use a ‘Progression in skills’ document to ensure skills are being developed throughout the key stage.
• Individual sketchbooks will be passed on to the following class teacher each year. These will show progression throughout the school.
• ‘Special’ pieces of work will be sent to the art and design subject leader to display in the school gallery.
• Work will be displayed in the classrooms, school hall and around the school corridors.
• Once displays are changed, work will be sent home or displayed in the local community, e.g. train station.
• The subject leader is responsible for monitoring and keeping photographic evidence of school displays.

Use of sketchbooks:

Each child has their own art and design A5 sketchbook which they take with them to the next class. This provides a record of their learning and progress. The children are encouraged to think of it as a place to practice and develop their work. The use of rubbers is discouraged in order to try and make the sketchbook a place where it is ok to make mistakes and be experimental. Pupils should be aware that their sketchbook does not need to be ‘perfect’ and that it is a working document and a collection of ideas.

The art and design sketchbook can be used to;

• Practise skills, e.g. drawing techniques such as shading or drawing from different viewpoints.
• Collect ideas from a visit – recording first hand observations or adding particular works that interest them on a visit to an exhibition or museum for future reference.
• Collect pictures/samples from the internet, magazines, cards etc.
• Store photographs.
• Collect samples of materials, fabrics and textures.
• Show colour strips from colour mixing.
• Evaluate their own work and work of other artists.
• Store samples of work (these may be stuck in)
• Record ideas and thoughts in writing.
• Research, collect information and include personal comments about the work of other artists.