Chesham Bois CE School

Art and DT

Art and Design & Technology Intent

Art

Chesham Bois CE School believes that art is a vital part of children’s education, with a significant and valuable role in the taught curriculum and the enrichment opportunities we offer our pupils. The art curriculum will develop children’s critical abilities, as well as an understanding of their own and others’ cultural heritages through the study of a diverse range of artists.
Children will develop their understanding of the visual language of art with effective teaching and considered sequences of lessons and experiences. Understanding of the visual elements of art and design (line, tone, texture, colour, pattern, shape, 3D form) will be developed by providing a curriculum which will enable children to reach their full potential.

DT
Design Technology is to be taught in all year groups through at least one topic per term, which includes one topic relating to food. Design Technology projects are often made cross curricular where possible - linking to other subjects taught in the curriculum. Children will design products with a purpose in mind and an intended user. Food technology is implemented across the school with children developing an understanding of where food comes from, the importance of a varied and healthy diet and how to prepare this. Design and technology is a crucial part of school life and learning and it is for this reason that as a school we are dedicated to the teaching and delivery of a high quality Design and Technology curriculum; through well planned and resourced projects and experiences.

It is an inspiring, rigorous and practical subject, requiring creativity, resourcefulness, and imagination. Pupils design and make products that solve real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts. It is often cross - curricular and draws upon subject knowledge and skills within Mathematics, Science, History, Computing and Art. Children learn to take risks, be reflective, innovative and resilient. Through the evaluation of past and present technology they can reflect upon the impact of Design Technology on everyday life and the wider world.

The aims of our Art and Design & Technology curriculum are:

· Access a broad and balanced, enriching curriculum where they can show progression in the development of skills.

· Enjoy an active involvement in art, craft and design.

· Have opportunities to learn about art and technology from different times and cultures.

· Become visually literate and able to identify and apply the key elements of art.

· Develop the ability to analyse and make informed critical judgements about their work and the work of other artists, crafts people and designers using appropriate language.

· All pupils will be given equal access to the experience of the art regardless of the gender, race or disability.

Art and Design & Technology Implementation

Art

The skills and knowledge that children will develop throughout each Art topic are mapped across each year group and are progressive throughout the school. 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, including humanities, with children developing a considerable knowledge of individual artists, as well as individual works and art movements. A similar systematic approach to the development of artistic skills means that children are given opportunities to express their creative imagination, as well as practise and develop mastery in the key processes of art: drawing, painting, printing, textiles and sculpture. Children are given the opportunity to experiment and record their ideas in a sketchbook. Children are encouraged to develop their own identify in sketchbooks when recording and learn about different art processes and explore various artists’ work.
Our coordinated whole-school project work ensures that art is given high status in the curriculum. This includes the school’s participation in the annual ‘Carnival Week’ which enables further focus on children’s artistic skills and knowledge in collaboration with other local schools. The school’s high-quality art curriculum is supported through the availability of a wide range of quality resources, which are used to support children’s confidence in the use of different media. The school’s unique locality is also utilised, with planned opportunities for learning outside the classroom, as well as the involvement of adults with specialist skills from the local and wider community.

DT

Through a variety of creative and practical activities, we teach the knowledge, understanding and skills needed to engage in an interactive process of designing and making. When designing and making, the school uses a standardised planning format to ensure the pupils are familiar with the design cycle:

Design – use research and develop design criteria to design for a purpose and communicate their ideas through a range of mediums. These are then recorded in children’s sketchbooks.

Make – Use a wider range of tools and equipment with accuracy and use a wider range of materials and components according to their qualities.

Evaluate – evaluate their ideas and products against their own design criteria and consider the views of others to improve their work.

Through this process, the aim is to develop pupils’ technical knowledge and vocabulary in relation to structural design, mechanical and electrical systems, the integration of technology and food production and nutrition.

Art and Design & Technology Impact

The structure of the art curriculum ensures that children are able to develop their knowledge and understanding of the work of artists, craftspeople and designers from a range of times and cultures and apply this knowledge to their own work. The consistent use of children’s sketchbooks means that children are able to review, modify and develop their initial ideas in order to achieve high quality outcomes. Children learn to understand and apply the key principles of art: line, tone, texture, shape, form, space, pattern, colour, contrast, composition, proportion and perspective. The opportunity for children to refine and develop their techniques over time is supported by effective lesson sequencing and progression between year groups. This also supports children in achieving age related expectations at the end of their cohort year.

Assessment of children's learning in Art and Design Technology is an ongoing monitoring of children's understanding, knowledge and skills by the class teacher, throughout lessons. This assessment is then used to inform differentiation, support and challenge required by the children. Summative assessment is conducted termly by class teachers across each year group of the school to inform the subject leader of progress or skills and knowledge still to be embedded. Art and DT is also monitored by the subject leader throughout the year in the form of sketch book monitoring, looking at outcomes and pupil interviews to discuss their learning and understanding and establish the impact of the teaching taking place.
Classroom displays reflect the children’s sense of pride in their artwork and this is also demonstrated by creative outcomes across the wider curriculum. Teachers evidence children’s art pieces in a class creativity folder to share with parents and other staff. The school environment also celebrates children’s achievements in art and demonstrates the subject’s high status in the school, with outcomes, including sculptures, as well as enhancing our indoor, environment. The Art and DT curriculum at Chesham Bois CE School contributes to children’s personal development in creativity, independence, judgement and self-reflection. Children achieve age related expectations in Art and DT at the end of their cohort year.