Art Curriculum Implementation

At St Joseph’s Catholic Schools’ Federation, we focus on first-hand experiences and the media of pencil, paint, fabric and clay. We use these to teach a wide range of skills in every year group in every term. As the children progress, we encourage them to practise and refine their skills by interpreting a range of stimulus from the world around them as well as drawing inspiration from artists, designers, architects and sculptors.

We use the Cornerstones curriculum 22 in Art and design, which exposes our children to a wide variety of different art forms through various engaging topics. This enables us to link art as closely to the topic for the term as possible to ensure relevance and context.

We teach a predominantly skills-based curriculum, which covers drawing, painting, sculpture, textiles and printing. Full details of our art curriculum can be found in our Long Term Plan.

Evidence of this sequential learning and progression can be found in our Curriculum Overview and Progression of Skills document.

We re-teach skills throughout the children’s time in school. Skills are revisited and honed in order to enable progression in terms of depth and challenge and to build upon children’s prior learning.
We ensure that each child develops their skills and techniques in a way appropriate to them, through clear differentiation and support, active and purposeful experiences, and by using a variety of art materials and teaching strategies.
We foster enjoyment and appreciation of the visual arts and a knowledge of artists, craftspeople and designers.
We introduce children to artists and art movements directly linked to the skills or topics they are covering.
Each child has a sketchbook. We use sketchbooks to teach specific skills and explore different techniques.
Every child is given the opportunity to earn the skills of drawing, painting, printing, sculpture and digital art
In the development of confident art critics, children share their opinions and make informed observations about what will improve their own practical work.
Cross-curricular links are integral to our curriculum and allow all children to deepen their understanding across different subjects, including the use of technology.
Termly visits act as a stimulus for art work.
Opportunities to reflect and develop are planned for and taught in every year group.
Effective CPD and standardisation opportunities are available to staff to ensure high level so confidence and knowledge are maintained.

The National Curriculum for Art and design aims to ensure that all pupils:

Produce creative work, exploring their ideas and recording their experiences
Become proficient in drawing, painting, sculpture and other art, craft and design techniques
Evaluate and analyse creative works using the language of art, craft and design
Know about great artists, craft makers and designers, and understand the historical and cultural development of their art forms.