Wavertree Church of England School

Belong Believe Achieve

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wavertree-ao@wavertree.liverpool.sch.uk

0151 7331231

Mrs Anna Brooksbank

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Art & Design

Wavertree Church of England School

Art and Design

At Wavertree Church of England School our vision is  ‘Belong, Believe, Achieve’ for everyone within our community .  This is at the forefront of all our teaching and learning in Art and Design.

Belong

At our school every child is important, and every child belongs.  They belong in their own right, to their class community, to our school community and to a wider community.  In our Art & Design lessons children are given the opportunity to work individually and collaboratively, displays are created to contribute to the school community.  Each term, 3 classes work on progressive skills matched to age related expectations.  Children are given opportunities to observe and explore the work of famous Artists and cultures in the wider world community.   As children create pieces of art it gives them a sense of belonging.

Believe

We have a Christian belief which in turn teaches us to believe God and ourselves. We encourage children to develop a sense of belief in themselves, their own abilities, and their creativity.   We believe that every child is an artist.  We believe art is an expression of thoughts, feelings, ideas.  We believe that art is not just about the product but just as importantly about the process.  Our Art & Design curriculum aims to equip children with the skills and techniques to be able to express themselves in different ways using a variety of materials and media. 

Achieve

Our Christian faith tells us that we all have our God given talents.  Our Art and Design curriculum gives all children the opportunity to shine and feel a sense of achievement.  There is no ‘right way’ to do things, children are given the freedom to explore and experiment without fearing a sense of failure.   All ‘work’ is valued which encourages children to believe in themselves and acknowledge their achievements.

Creating, can be relaxing, quite calming and good for the spirit and soul so during these lessons children can achieve a positive sense of well-being linking to the PSHE element of the curriculum and even spirituality linked to religious studies.

Curriculum Statement of Intent for Art & Design

Curriculum Intent

At Wavertree Church of England School, it is our intent to provide a broad and balanced creative Art & Design curriculum which stimulates and builds on children’s prior learning, art skills, knowledge and understanding.  We believe all children of all abilities should have equal opportunity to experience a challenging and creative curriculum.

We believe “all children are artists” (Picasso) and endeavour to encourage children to develop creative imagination, technical skill and sheer excitement for art and design.   We have high expectations and want children to develop confidence and to believe in what they can achieve.  

Through our Art & Design lessons we strive to open up new skills, foster confidence and self – belief, encourage discussion, reflection, review, promote fundamental qualities of imagination and self – expression which enrich learning and life across the board.

Activities are planned to enthuse and inspire children to develop their creativity.  We encourage children to develop and achieve a wide range of art and design techniques in using colour, pattern, texture, line, shape, form and space.  Children are given opportunities to use a wide range of materials and media creatively and use different skills to develop and share their ideas, experiences and imagination. 

We endeavour to teach children to develop their skills and techniques within different areas of experience: drawing, painting, printmaking, collage, textiles and 3D.  This will include learning how to control and use materials, with creativity and experimentation.  

Children learn about a range of great artists, craft makers and designers, describing the differences and similarities between different practices and disciplines, and use what they have learnt to inspire their own work.  They are given opportunities to share their ideas, experiences and imagination with each other and to evaluate and compare their own work with others which helps them to feel like they belong in the school and the wider world.

Curriculum Implementation

At Wavertree Church of England School, we believe that Art and Design is an expression of self and begins from an early age. 

In the Early Years Foundation Stage, we provide a rich environment in which we encourage and value creativity. Children experience a wide variety of activities that they respond to, using the various senses.  They are given the opportunity to work alongside different adults.

Children are exposed to many exciting opportunities to be creative through both continuous provision and adult directed activities as part of the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum.  The children’s learning includes exploring drawing and painting with different techniques as well as exploring and creating with loose parts and other media and materials. 

This learning relates mainly to the ‘Expressive Arts and Design’ area of the Early Years Foundation Stage, which underpins the curriculum planning for children aged nought to five.  This learning takes place both indoors and outdoors but on a larger scale. The planning is based on the children’s own interests which results in activities that are imaginative and enjoyable.

Children explore their creativity individually, collaboratively in friendship groups and sometimes as a class, which helps them to feel like they belong.  They are given opportunities to observe and respond to work of Famous Artists giving them a sense of belonging to the wider world. 

All ‘work’ is valued and through photographs and displays children can see this and develop pride and believe they can achieve. 

In Key Stage 1 and 2 children are taught Art & Design as a discrete subject using the “Art & Design in Suffolk” scheme.  Children are taught artistic skills and techniques and develop progression of these skills.

The units are based on the areas of experience, Drawing, Painting, Printmaking, Collage, Textiles and 3D.  Art & Design is taught every other half term alternating with Design & Technology.  Therefore, children experience each of the 6 areas over 2 years.  For example, Yr 1 – Drawing, Printmaking, Textiles: Yr 2 – Painting, Collage, 3D.

Through the scheme children experience and are exposed to a variety of different historical cultures for example Celtic, Viking, Japanese, Australian and Aboriginal, and are given opportunities to be inspired by these helping them to feel like they belong in the wider world. 

Children study and are inspired by the work of a range of artists.  For example, Matisse, Kandinsky, Van Gogh, Patrick Caulfield. 

Children are given the opportunity to work individually and in groups giving them a sense of identity and belonging to the class and school community.

Art & Design in Suffolk encourages schools to interpret the scheme in different ways and so our curriculum allows teachers to adapt, modify and make it their own to best suit the diverse needs of the children in the class.

Curriculum Impact

At Wavertree Church of England School, we strive to demonstrate a clear progression and continuity of a variety of art and design skills and techniques across the year groups.  We aim to give children a greater knowledge and understanding of Artists and Cultures and to inspire them with their own creations.   We want all children to believe in themselves and to feel that they can achieve.

The impact of learning in Art & Design is monitored and assessed in a variety of ways.   We assess the children’s work and achievements in Art & Design whilst observing them working during lessons.  Each half term teachers assess and evaluate the learning that has taken place based on their observations, photographic evidence and work in children’s books.  The Art & Design co-ordinator collects examples of evidence from 3 ability groups to show progression of skills.  This information is then entered into a yearly summary grid and analysed. 

At the end of the year, we make a judgement against the National Curriculum. This information is used by the teacher to make an annual assessment of achievement and progress for each child, as part of the child’s annual report to parents. This information is also passed on to the next teacher.

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