At Dartford Primary Academy, our teaching of Art and Design provides all children with creative opportunities to acquire the knowledge and skills needed to take advantage of opportunities, responsibilities and experiences both now and in later life. It is planned to give pupils the knowledge and skills expected from the National Curriculum and goes beyond this to develop and extend their abilities whilst fostering enthusiasm amongst all. We ensure all pupils have the opportunity to express their individual interests, thoughts and ideas. Children learn to respond to a range of media and materials and develop their understanding of them in order to manipulate and create different effects. They will be able to use different media and materials to express their own unique ideas and explore colour and use it for a particular purpose. The children will also be able to use simple tools and techniques competently and appropriately.
Through the philosophy of the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme, we aim to deliver a high quality art education that engages, inspires and challenges all pupils regardless of need or background which will equip them with the knowledge and skills to experiment, take risks and create and invent their own unique works of art, craft and design. Our curriculum is planned to address social disadvantages and is sequenced so that new knowledge and skills build on what has been taught before and towards clearly defined end points. The children will develop an understanding of different artists and understand how art and design both reflects and shapes our history. We deliver a broad and balanced experience equipping all pupils with the cultural capital that they need to succeed in life.
The teaching and implementation of the Art and Design curriculum at Dartford Primary Academy is based on the National Curriculum and Development Matters and delivered through the philosophy of the IB to allow the children to experience a well-structured approach to this creative subject. Art at DPA is inclusive and adapted to meet the needs of all children, including those with SEND and additional needs. The children’s learning is further enhanced by working towards whole school projects at the end of the academic year where they have the opportunity to work collaboratively to explore different styles and techniques they have used and developed. Teachers are able to develop their subject knowledge through CPD opportunities.
In EYFS, pupils are encouraged to explore and use a variety of media and materials through a combination of child-initiated and adult-directed activities. They have opportunities to learn by exploring the textures, movement, feel and look of different media and materials and develop the vocabulary to describe what they have done.
When children reach Key Stage One, they begin to develop and build on previous skills as well as learning new ones. Pupils are taught to use a range of materials creatively whilst working through the design process to make products. They will be able to use drawing, painting, printing, collage and the use of IT to develop and share their ideas. Children will be encouraged to experiment and explore mixing colours whilst developing a wide range of art and design techniques in using colour, pattern, texture, line, form and space. Children in Key Stage One will also discuss artists’ work by looking at how they have created it using different colours, shapes and lines.
Once children reach Key Stage Two, they will have a bank of knowledge and skills that will be further developed. Understanding is assessed regularly through questioning, lesson feedback and retrieval tasks. Children will be encouraged to record, review and revisit their observations alongside joining in discussions about the mastery of art and design techniques by applying the vocabulary they have learnt throughout their academic journey. They will develop their skills further in drawing, painting, sculpting and collaging using a wide range of materials. They will have an understanding of great artists and designers in history.
Our team encourages our pupils to become open-minded and reflective learners who have a web of different art and design skills which they can apply to a variety of tasks. Children will have a sense of pride in their artwork and this will be demonstrated by creative outcomes across the wider curriculum. All pupils will acquire the knowledge and cultural capital they need to succeed in life. Through regular reflection, children are making progress and being aware of the fact they know more, remember more and therefore are able to do more. They will have embedded the key art and design skills needed to allow them to produce pieces of work which they take care creating and can communicate to others how they have produced a piece of work.