Our Art Vision 

Intent: Cultivating Creative Minds and Critical Thinkers

At Drybrook Primary School, our Art and Design curriculum is intricately designed to provide our pupils with a spectrum of creative experiences, fostering their journey to becoming independent, self-aware, and critically engaged thinkers. We aim to develop their technical skills in art and design, encouraging a balance between direct instruction and self-driven creative expression. Our pupils are urged to view themselves as artists, emboldened to interpret their world and their ideas through various artistic mediums.

We aspire for our pupils to not only acquire skills but to also develop a lifelong appreciation for the arts. Our curriculum extends beyond academic learning, serving as a platform for personal expression and engagement with a world that is rich in culture and artistic heritage. Drawing inspiration from local, regional, and global art, we expose our students to a diversity of creative influences that span ancient to contemporary times.

Implementation: A Progressive and Reflective Approach

Our Art and Design teaching is grounded in structured, skill-driven pedagogy, ensuring that learning is progressive across all year groups. We prioritize the teaching of technical skills through teacher-led demonstrations and practical exercises, enriching pupils’ confidence and control in handling different media.

Art at Drybrook is taught through project-based learning, where teachers select meaningful projects that enable children to apply their knowledge and practice various skills, culminating in a final artwork. Each class undertakes three projects over the academic year, which are then proudly displayed in a termly gallery, providing pupils with a sense of audience and achievement.

Our medium-term planning ensures foundational knowledge of artists and skills practice is revisited and reinforced. We encourage our pupils to make connections with artists and their own experiences, making informed choices about techniques and mediums for their end-of-project pieces. 

Throughout KS1 and KS2, children are taught a range of skills covering drawing, painting, sculpture, and printing, with each year building upon the skills taught in previous years.

Impact: Nurturing Artistic Talent and Appreciation

By the end of their journey at Drybrook Primary, our pupils emerge as not only skilled artists but also as individuals who appreciate the value and impact of art in the world. They learn to think and act like artists, appreciating the diverse forms of expression and the power of visual communication.

Our assessment approach in Art and Design is ongoing, with regular reviews of pupils’ artwork, class discussions, and practical tasks. This continuous assessment, coupled with termly project outcomes, allows us to monitor and celebrate the artistic development of each child.

At Drybrook Primary School, Art and Design is more than a subject; it is a means for our pupils to explore, understand, and express themselves. We are committed to providing an Art and Design education that inspires creativity, nurtures talent, and instils a profound appreciation for the arts.