Art
Ashton Hayes Primary School – Art and Design Curriculum Overview
Vision for Art and Design
At Ashton Hayes Primary School, we believe that Art and Design should inspire creativity, curiosity and self-expression while helping pupils develop the skills to observe, interpret and respond to the world around them. As a small rural school in Cheshire, many of our pupils have limited opportunities to experience galleries, artists and wider cultural influences beyond their immediate community. Our Art and Design curriculum aims to both celebrate creativity and broaden pupils’ understanding of art, craft and design from a range of times, cultures and traditions.
Through drawing, painting, sculpture, printing, textiles and mixed media, pupils develop confidence, imagination and resilience. They learn how artists use materials, techniques and ideas to communicate meaning, emotion and atmosphere. Pupils explore a range of disciplines including drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, collage, textiles and mixed media while developing observational skills, technical control and creative independence.
We want pupils to see themselves as artists and makers who can experiment, refine ideas and express themselves creatively. Through practical experiences, pupils learn to take risks, explore materials and develop their own artistic responses. As a rural village school, we recognise the importance of providing pupils with meaningful, hands-on experiences that develop confidence, independence and creativity. Our curriculum therefore provides opportunities for pupils to work with a wide range of media, tools and materials while developing the technical vocabulary needed to discuss and evaluate artwork. We place strong value on creative exploration that is relevant to pupils’ lives and experiences, enabling pupils to draw inspiration from the natural world, local environment, historical themes and the work of significant artists.
Our Art and Design curriculum is carefully sequenced so that knowledge and skills build progressively across year groups. Pupils revisit key strands including drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, collage, textiles and mixed media, developing increasing control, accuracy, independence and artistic understanding over time. In Key Stage 1, pupils begin by exploring materials, mark making and simple creative techniques while developing confidence in expressing ideas visually. Across Key Stage 2, pupils build on this foundation by developing greater technical control, observational accuracy and understanding of artistic processes. Through this progressive approach, pupils develop creativity, resilience and pride in their artwork while gaining the knowledge and skills required by the National Curriculum.
We aim for all pupils to:
- produce creative work, exploring ideas and recording 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
- become reflective artists who can adapt, refine and improve their work through experimentation and evaluation
Implementation
Art and Design at Ashton Hayes Primary School is taught through a carefully planned sequence of projects that ensure progression of knowledge, skills and vocabulary across the school.
The curriculum is organised around key strands including drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, collage, textiles and mixed media. These strands are revisited across the two-year rolling programme so that pupils develop increasingly secure artistic understanding and technical competence over time.
Lessons provide opportunities for pupils to explore materials, develop techniques and respond creatively to artists, themes and stimuli. Pupils investigate the work of artists and designers, experiment with media and techniques, develop ideas in sketchbooks and create final outcomes using a range of materials and processes. Throughout the creative process, pupils are encouraged to refine, adapt and improve their work.
Technical knowledge and vocabulary are explicitly taught within each project. Pupils learn how artists use line, shape, colour, tone, texture, pattern, form and composition to create different effects and meanings. They develop increasing understanding of how materials behave and how artistic techniques can be applied with greater control and precision.
Sketchbooks play an important role throughout the curriculum. Pupils use sketchbooks to practise techniques, record observations, explore compositions, develop ideas and reflect on their work. As pupils move through the school, sketchbook use becomes increasingly independent and purposeful.
The curriculum makes strong use of practical, hands-on learning. Pupils are given regular opportunities to experiment with materials, explore ideas and solve creative challenges through observation and artistic exploration. Teachers model techniques clearly and adapt learning to ensure that all pupils can access the curriculum successfully.
The curriculum is carefully sequenced to ensure clear progression:
- in drawing, pupils progress from simple mark making and shape drawing to observational drawing, proportion, perspective and composition
- in painting, pupils progress from basic colour mixing and simple washes to blending, atmosphere, tonal work and purposeful colour palettes
- in sculpture, pupils progress from simple shaping and joining techniques to refined clay work, structural sculpture and armature construction
- in printmaking and textiles, pupils progress from simple mono-printing and weaving to relief printing, stitching and combining multiple techniques independently
- in sketchbook use, pupils progress from recording simple ideas to independently refining, developing and revisiting artistic outcomes
Enrichment opportunities such as themed art projects, outdoor sketching, collaborative artwork and links to literature, history and geography further deepen pupils’ understanding and engagement.
Impact
Through the Art and Design curriculum at Ashton Hayes Primary School, pupils develop creativity, confidence and pride in their artistic achievements. They gain a secure understanding of artistic techniques, processes and vocabulary while developing the ability to express ideas, observations and emotions visually.
Pupils leave the school with an increasingly secure understanding of key artistic disciplines including drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, collage and textiles. They develop the ability to apply artistic skills with growing independence, control and creativity.
Pupils learn to discuss and evaluate artwork thoughtfully, justify artistic choices and refine their work through experimentation and reflection. They understand that art is a process of exploration, adaptation and improvement.
By engaging with a wide range of artists, materials and creative experiences, pupils develop cultural awareness, curiosity and appreciation of different artistic styles and traditions. They also develop resilience, problem-solving skills and confidence in taking creative risks.
Sketchbooks provide evidence of pupils’ developing artistic journey across the curriculum, demonstrating increasing independence, technical understanding and creative thinking over time.
Ultimately, pupils leave Ashton Hayes Primary School as creative, reflective and confident learners who are prepared for the next stage of their education and able to engage thoughtfully with the visual world around them.