Intent – what do we want to achieve?

Curriculum Link

At our school, the curriculum is designed to inspire curiosity, foster a love of learning and equip every child with the knowledge, skills and confidence to succeed. We are committed to providing a broad, balanced and ambitious curriculum that is accessible to all pupils, regardless of their starting points.

Our curriculum is carefully sequenced, using the Kapow Primary, to ensure that knowledge and skills build progressively over time. This ensures that Art and Design are taught through a coherent, knowledge-rich approach that supports both teacher confidence and pupil outcomes. The curriculum provides structured, progressive learning that enables children to revisit and deepen their understanding year-on-year.

We aim to develop the whole child—academically, socially and emotionally—through opportunities that promote resilience, independence, creativity and respect. Our curriculum extends beyond the classroom, including weekly Forest School sessions, allowing children to develop a connection with nature and build essential life skills.

The teaching and implementation of the Art and Design curriculum at the KT Federation is based on the National Curriculum and linked to topics to ensure a well-structured approach to teaching. Our art and design curriculum shows progression of knowledge, skills and key vocabulary, with ‘flashback’s to prior learning highlighted.

This all begins in the EYFS when children explore and use a variety of media and materials through a combination of child-initiated and adult-directed activities. They have opportunities to learn to explore textures, colour, media and materials, developing their understanding of them in order to create different effects. Children are encouraged to work independently and express their own ideas, exploring colour and developing skills to use simple tools and techniques.

In KS1 children are taught:

• To use a range of materials creatively to design and make products
• To use drawing, painting and sculpture to develop and share their ideas, experiences and imagination
• To develop a wide range of art and design techniques using colour, pattern, texture, line, shape, form and space
• About the work of a range of artists, craft makers and designers, across a range of cultures, describing the differences and similarities between different practices and disciplines, and making links to their own work.

In KS2 children are 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.
• To create sketches to record their observations 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 [for example, pencil, charcoal, paint, clay]
• About great artists and designers in history and from a range of cultures.

Children will be confident and independent artists and designers. We do not want our art and design curriculum to focus solely on the finished product, but also on the process.  We do not want any of our children to impose their own barriers to learning, such as, 'I can’t draw', or 'I’m not artistic'. We celebrate and showcase the creativity of all children in order to promote a sense of well-being and build self-esteem. 

Children will be encouraged to self and peer assess – with this process used as a tool to build confidence and develop evaluation in a safe environment. Teaching staff will also use feedback to develop children’s knowledge and skills, whilst assessing individual’s work. Outcomes will be seen in topic books, sketchbooks, through work on display and from photographic evidence.

The Art and Design subject lead attends CPD and supports teaching staff.

Implementation

Art and Design is taught through the Kapow Primary scheme, which provides a clear, progressive sequence of learning from Early Years through to Year 6. This ensures that pupils systematically build their knowledge, skills and understanding across a range of artistic disciplines.

Lessons are carefully structured to develop pupils’ skills in drawing, painting, sculpture, printing and textiles. Each unit focusses on developing specific techniques while also embedding key knowledge about colour, form, pattern and texture. Pupils are given regular opportunities to practise and refine their skills, leading to the creation of purposeful, high-quality outcomes.

The curriculum is designed to expose pupils to a diverse range of artists, designers and craft-makers from different cultures and historical periods. Through this, pupils develop an understanding of how art reflects and shapes the world around them. They are encouraged to evaluate and discuss artwork using appropriate vocabulary, building confidence in expressing their ideas and opinions.

Teaching follows a clear sequence:

• Exploration and inspiration through studying artists and examples of work
• Skill development where techniques are explicitly taught and practised
• Application where pupils create their own pieces using acquired skills

Sketchbooks are used consistently across the school as a tool for experimentation, practice and reflection. This allows pupils to record ideas, develop techniques and evaluate their work over time, showing clear progression.

Teachers use questioning, modelling and feedback to support pupils in improving their work. Lessons are inclusive and adapted to ensure all pupils can access the curriculum and achieve success.

Art and Design is also enriched through cross-curricular links where appropriate and through opportunities such as displays, projects and creative experiences, including links to our Forest School provision, where natural materials and outdoor inspiration are often incorporated into artistic work.

Through this structured and engaging approach, pupils develop creativity, confidence and a strong foundation in artistic skills.

Impact

The impact of our curriculum is reflected in pupils who:

• Develop secure and transferable knowledge across all subjects
• Demonstrate strong skills in reading, writing and mathematics
• Show curiosity, independence and resilience in their learning
• Are able to articulate their learning and apply it in different contexts
• Build confidence through a wide range of experiences, including outdoor learning

Through our carefully structured curriculum and use of high-quality schemes, pupils make strong progress from their starting points. The progressive nature of Kapow Primary ensures that knowledge is built step-by-step, supporting long-term retention and deeper understanding.

Assessment is used effectively to monitor progress, inform teaching and ensure that all pupils achieve well. By the time children leave our school, they are well-prepared for the next stage of their education and equipped to be active, responsible members of society.