Art and Design

National Curriculum Purpose of Study

Art, craft and design embody some of the highest forms of human creativity. A high-quality art and design education should engage, inspire and challenge pupils, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to experiment, invent and create their own works of art, craft and design. As pupils progress, they should be able to think critically and develop a more rigorous understanding of art and design. They should also know how art and design both reflect and shape our history, and contribute to the culture, creativity and wealth of our nation.

National Curriculum Aims

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.

Art and Design at Eastwick

The art curriculum at Eastwick meets the requirements of the National Curriculum and the school’s Curriculum Ethos. Therefore, it prepares children to be ‘Ready for Everything’ in their futures in terms of: 

• Success in the next stage of their education and beyond: by equipping children with the knowledge to experiment, invent and create their own works of art, craft and design; by developing knowledge of artists, craft makers and designers.
• their ability to navigate life’s personal Challenge: by providing children with opportunities to think critically; by developing self-worth and confidence through artistic expression.
• understanding their place in communities at global, national and local levels and seize the Opportunity of the future: by deepening their understanding of how art and design both reflect and shape our history, and contribute to culture, creativity and wealth of our nation.

Curriculum Content

• In Reception, pupils are taught elements of art and design that prepare them for the Year 1 curriculum.
• Our curriculum in Years 1-6 uses the Kapow Art and Design scheme of work. 
• Knowledge is built progressively throughout Key Stage 1 and 2. Pupils revisit the key knowledge themes (see below) on a cyclical basis.  Each time a key knowledge theme is revisited, it is covered with greater complexity, therefore increasing children’s breadth and depth of knowledge.  Prior knowledge is recalled and utilised so that pupils build on previous foundations.   

Key Knowledge Themes:

Drawing

Painting and mixed media

Sculpture and 3D

Craft and design

Units taught (Years 1-6):