Fairlop Primary School

Art & Design at Fairlop
At Fairlop, we aim to deliver an engaging art and design curriculum, which promotes creativity through exploring ideas and recording experiences. In line with the National Curriculum, we believe that children should acquire an appreciation of human creativity. 

Our curriculum provides children with opportunities to develop their skills using a range of media and materials. Children learn the formal elements of art, focussing on line and tone, colour, texture and blending, this provides them the opportunity to explore and evaluate different creative ideas and analyse the techniques used. Children will be introduced to a range of works and develop knowledge of the styles and vocabulary used by famous artists. It is paramount that art work be purposeful; be this as a means of expression or to explore the styles of other artists that inspire our own work. Children should be clear what the intended outcomes are and have a means to measure their own work against this. Children are expected to be reflective and evaluate their work, thinking about how they can make changes and develop their mastery of art and design techniques. Children of all abilities have opportunities to develop their skills and knowledge in each unit and through planned progression

Both key stages use a range of materials, techniques and skills in their art and design lessons. They explore a range of artists, selected for specific reasons (e.g., techniques, colours, style) to consider, compare and take inspiration. All ideas and techniques are recorded in a sketch book - this records the learning journey through each project and allows the children to reflect upon their artistic development. As our children progress, we guide them towards a more rigorous understanding of art and design. We investigate how art and design reflect and shape our history and contribute to the culture and creativity of our nation. By inspiring children with a range of work from artists, architects and designers, they will be able to explore their own ideas and understand how art has helped shaped our culture.

Skills Lessons
At the start of each unit, one skills lesson linked to ‘Line and Tone’, ‘Colour’ or ‘Texture and Blending’ will be taught. The skills are taken from the Fairlop ‘Art Skills Progression’ document. The skills highlighted are taught explicitly in the skills lesson at the start of the unit and the other skills will be incorporated into the main teaching within the units across the year group.

Curriculum links
Where relevant, the art and design curriculum has been planned in line with the content of other curriculum subjects. The art and design skills children acquire across the school are then applied to their cross-curricular topics, allowing children to use their art skills to reflect on and explore curriculum content in greater depth. 

Sketchbooks and Outcomes
Art and design sketchbooks are provided for each child and will progress through the years with them. All art and design work should be recorded in sketchbooks, with a clear date and learning objective/title. For the majority of art and design units of work, there is a final piece to apply and showcase the skills focused upon in the unit, the sketchbook should reflect the journey of skills development leading to the final piece. Finished pieces of artwork should be displayed in classrooms and corridors unless the overview specifically says the outcome is in sketchbooks.

Evaluation:
Children should evaluate their work at the end of each unit, including considering:

• Are they able to explore skills they have learnt?
• Are they able to make improvements and compare their work with others?
• Are children able to re-visit their work and explore techniques by using another medium?