Art & Design

Art and Design gives pupils the freedom to explore ideas, materials and visual language. Children learn from artists, craftspeople and designers while developing their own creative responses.

Art and Design Curriculum

At All Saints’, our Art and Design curriculum enables pupils to develop their creativity, artistic skills and understanding of the world through art. Pupils learn to observe, experiment and create, exploring a wide range of artists, designers, techniques, materials and artistic styles. Through practical experiences and the study of significant artists and art movements, pupils develop confidence in expressing their ideas, interpreting what they see and producing their own creative work.

 Our curriculum progressively develops artistic knowledge, skills and understanding. Learning is carefully sequenced so that pupils build on, revisit and refine prior learning, developing increasing control, creativity and confidence in drawing, painting, sculpture and other artistic processes. The curriculum is supported by the Suffolk Scheme, which provides a structured approach to developing pupils’ artistic skills, knowledge and understanding across the school.

Pupils experiment with drawing, painting, sculpture and other media. They use sketchbooks to investigate ideas, practise techniques, make choices and reflect on their work.

What pupils develop

Pupils develop the skills to observe the world closely, investigate visual ideas and communicate their thoughts and feelings through art. They explore colour, line, shape, form, texture, pattern and space, learning how these elements can be used to create different effects and meanings.

Through the study of artists, craftspeople and designers, pupils learn to recognise and discuss different styles, techniques and approaches. They develop an understanding of how art reflects people, places, cultures and periods of history, while learning to appreciate and evaluate their own work and the work of others.

Pupils are encouraged to observe, experiment and create throughout their artistic journey. They observe details and features in the world around them, experiment with materials and techniques to discover new possibilities, and create individual pieces of work that communicate their ideas and imagination.

Teaching and Learning

Art and Design is taught through carefully sequenced units, drawing on the Suffolk Scheme to support the progressive development of knowledge, techniques and practical skills. Teachers explicitly introduce key vocabulary, artistic concepts, materials and processes through demonstrations, modelling, discussion and guided practice.

Pupils are given opportunities to explore a variety of media, including pencils, paints, pastels, printing materials, clay and recycled or natural materials. They learn to handle tools safely, practise techniques, make choices about materials and refine their work in response to feedback and reflection.

Learning encourages pupils to experiment, take creative risks and develop their own ideas. Sketchbooks provide opportunities to record observations, collect inspiration, practise techniques, explore possibilities and reflect on their progress. Pupils learn that experimentation, mistakes and changes of direction are valuable parts of the creative process.

Through regular discussion and evaluation, pupils develop the vocabulary to describe artistic choices, explain their intentions and consider how their work might be improved.

Experiences are planned to broaden knowledge of art and culture while allowing technical confidence and individual expression to develop.

Progression across the school

Learning progresses from exploring materials, making marks and noticing colour, shape and texture towards developing more controlled techniques, combining processes and creating increasingly considered and individual outcomes.

Pupils revisit key artistic skills and concepts throughout their time at school, building confidence in drawing, painting, printing, sculpture and other forms of creative expression. They develop a growing knowledge of artists and artistic traditions, learning to make connections between different works, techniques and ideas.

The Art and Design Learning Journey ensures that skills and knowledge are developed systematically. All pupils are supported to access the same ambitious curriculum through clear demonstrations, explicit vocabulary teaching, appropriate scaffolding and opportunities for independent exploration and challenge.

By the end of each key stage, pupils should be able to observe, experiment, create and evaluate with increasing confidence. They should be able to apply a range of techniques, make informed artistic choices, communicate ideas visually and discuss their own work and the work of others using appropriate vocabulary.

Inclusion, Enrichment and Impact

Our Art and Design curriculum provides an inclusive environment where every child is encouraged to explore their creativity, express their individuality and take pride in their achievements. Pupils are supported to develop their own artistic voice while learning to respect different perspectives, interpretations and cultural traditions.

Learning is enriched through the study of a diverse range of artists, practical investigations, creative projects and opportunities to explore art within the local environment and wider world. Where appropriate, pupils may work with different materials, visit exhibitions or respond to artworks and objects that deepen their understanding and inspire new ideas.

Teachers assess pupils’ progress through observation, discussion, sketchbooks and finished pieces of work. This enables them to identify developing skills, address misconceptions and provide opportunities for pupils to revisit techniques, refine their ideas and extend their creativity.

The impact of our curriculum is evident when pupils can retain and apply artistic knowledge, use materials and techniques with increasing skill, discuss artists and artworks thoughtfully, and explain the creative decisions they have made. Pupils develop confidence in experimenting, perseverance when faced with challenges and pride in their own artistic achievements.

Ultimately, we want every child to leave All Saints’ with a strong foundation of artistic knowledge, practical skills and creative confidence. We want our pupils to be curious about the visual world, inspired by the work of others and confident in their ability to observe, experiment and create. Through Art and Design, we aim to nurture imaginative, reflective and expressive individuals who appreciate the value of creativity and recognise the important role art plays in understanding and enriching the world around them.