Art

Subject Leader: Miss Moorcroft

Art Intent

At Barnfields, our art curriculum enables children to express themselves through a rigorous understanding of techniques and the visual elements of art. Our learning is progressive and well-sequenced year-on-year, meaning that during their time with us, children acquire the knowledge and understanding they need to embody their own creativity, as well as critique the work of others. 

Our art curriculum will develop children’s critical thinking and their understanding of their own and others’ cultural heritages. They will develop the ability to express thoughts, opinions and feelings about artworks and explore a range of diverse artists, craft makers, architects and designers both current and through history.

       

Our Art Approach at Barnfields

The Art curriculum at Barnfields is underpinned by the National Curriculum. It is carefully sequenced across a series of high-quality lessons to provide children with opportunities for in-depth exploration of various techniques and processes.

Visual language is interwoven into each unit and children build upon this knowledge year-on-year.
The three strands of knowledge are evident within each unit. Practical knowledge allows children to learn how to make art, while theoretical knowledge provides them with an understanding of art and its history. Disciplinary knowledge aids children in understanding what art is, the different forms it can take and the ways in which artists work. 

                       

The three key areas of painting, drawing and sculpture are explored within each year group, to ensure children can systematically build. These are supported and enhanced by other areas, such as collage and print making, to encourage creativity. Throughout the year, children are provided with opportunities for convergent and divergent tasks, allowing them to practice and refine the basic methods necessary to utilise their own creativity.  

As children progress through the school, they will begin to make their own decisions about the materials, methods, techniques and processes they wish to use, engaging in decision making to discover which ones will be the most effective for their work. They will be able to comment upon their reasoning for these choices, based upon their technique developmental work and use visual language confidently to describe it.

Art Curriculum Overview