Being Artists

Our Vision

As Artists children develop their individual creativity, express their ideas and feelings and develop their understanding of different media. Our children explore ideas and record experiences through a range of artistic techniques. Ultimately, we want them to be proficient in a range of art forms, including, painting, sculpture and other art, craft and design techniques. Through different enquiries the children evaluate and analyse works by great artists, craft makers and designers, to understand the historical and cultural development of art forms. As artists, the children at The Weald are confident in sketching/drawing, feel a strong sense of achievement, value the impact of art within their own lives and can reach their full potential in this subject area.

How we plan and teach being an Artist

At The Weald, being an Artist is embedded in enquiry learning. Some enquiries are lead artist where new or explicit skills are taught. Other enquiries use being an artist as a supportive state of being, helping the children to apply new know of and know how in different ways. Through enquiries, teachers plan sequences of lessons that will build on and develop the children’s skills culminating in a final piece. The skills and knowledge that children will develop throughout each enquiry are mapped across the school to ensure progression. The emphasis on knowledge ensures that children understand the context of the artwork, as well as the artists that they are learning about and being inspired by. This enables links to other curriculum areas, with the children developing a considerable knowledge of individual artists as well as individual works and art movements. A similar focus on skills means that children are given opportunities to express their creative imagination, as well as practice and develop and use the key processes of art: drawing, painting, printing, textiles, collage and sculpture.

At The Weald, opportunities are taken to enrich the art curriculum that has been delivered through enquiries. In addition to curriculum learning, Art clubs, art weeks, and additional being an artist sessions ensure children have a range of artistic experiences.

How we evaluate our learning as an Artist

The impact of our art curriculum can clearly be seen in the children’s sketchbooks which pass on with them to the following year group. At the beginning of each enquiry where being an artist is a lead state, children will reflect on prior learning to support their future development of new skills. The outcomes of being an Artist can be seen through the children’s sketch books, displays and the challenges that the children produce. The opportunity to evaluate and reflect on the learning is planned for towards the end of the enquiry to enable the children to see how their learning is progressing and where they need to take it next. On completion of a final piece of artwork, children reflect on their achievement.

Art Club

Mrs Salter runs an Art club every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday after school. Mrs Salter makes sure each term the children have many different art activities to enjoy. We all enjoy seeing their work which is displayed throughout the school.