At Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary School, we value Art and Design and see it as an important part of the children’s entitlement to a broad and balanced curriculum. Art and Design provides the children with the opportunities to develop and extend skills and an opportunity to express their individual interests, thought and ideas.

Children will develop their understanding of the visual language of art with effective teaching and carefully thought out sequences of lessons and experiences. Understanding of the visual elements of art and design (line, tone, texture, colour, pattern, shape, 3D form) will be developed by providing an accessible and engaging curriculum which will enable children to reach their full potential. It will allow children to invent and create their own works of art, craft and design. 

The children should also know how art and design both reflect and shape our history, and contribute to it’s culture and creativity by studying a diverse range of artists and designers.

We teach a skills-based art curriculum, which allows children to express their creative imagination as well as providing them with opportunities to practise and develop mastery in the key processes of art: drawing, painting, printing, textiles, digital media and sculpture. This is supported through the studying of key artists and the development of a knowledge of their work.

Lessons are taught in blocks on a termly basis linked to the main enquiry questions of the Learning Challenge Curriculum, with a particular focus on the necessary skills, before completing a final piece.

The evidence of their work is collected within the art sketch book which follows the children through the school. Photographs of larger, group or 3D pieces are also kept within this book.

We also keep thematic Floor books to collect evidence of learning within an enquiry.

The pupil’s knowledge of art history and visual elements of art is recorded throughout the theme in knowledge leaves that are attached to the Learning Challenge trees found in all classes. The development of their physical skills will be evaluated against Key Performance Indicators in drawing, painting, sculpture and other art, craft and design techniques at the end of the year. Other evidence is also gathered by the subject leader through learning walks, observation of lessons and work and through discussion with the children.