Art is taught mainly during our Express Projects (Summer Term). Other opportunities for developing Art skills and knowledge and to support children’s long term memory development are planned into the Discover and Explore projects (Autumn and Spring Term, depending on year group). The focus of our Art studies enables pupils to engage with their Project Question and Project Values. For example, Year 1 ask: ‘How can empathy for others and self-knowledge nurture personal wellbeing?’ and study the values of: ‘Empathy, Contentment, Strength, Patience and Compassion’. They explore and define complex emotions and mental health needs. They study the artworks of surrealist artists and develop their knowledge of composition, alongside expressing themselves through their own art.
Lessons at St Mary’s are planned and organised with progression and challenge as the key drivers. Medium term plans are developed by Senior Leaders and the Subject Leader to ensure that curriculum coverage, high expectations and cross-curricular contexts are studied in Art and Design. During Art and Design lessons, children have the opportunity to work independently, with a partner and in mixed ability groups to enable everyone to engage with this area of the curriculum.
