Art and Design
Curriculum Subject Lead - Mrs C Milietic
'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)
The intention of the Art and Design Curriculum at Mount Pleasant Primary School through the use of the Cornerstones Curriculum, is to inspire children’s creativity and provide a purposeful, challenging skills/ knowledge-based platform where their artistic ability can flourish.
Through our teaching, we intend to provoke imagination, innovation and freedom of expression through the exploration of the various art forms. We want children to have a sense of pride and ownership when completing a piece of artwork and celebrate individualism.
Taking part in art and design allows pupils to investigate what they see; to make visual responses; to interpret and reach decisions. As our pupils progress, they will be able to think critically and develop a more rigorous understanding of the subject. Children are encouraged to discover answers to their own questions through the exploration of materials/techniques and to be inspired by other artists and craftspeople.
We feel that is important for pupils to know how art and design both reflects and shapes our history, contributes to the culture, creativity and wealth of our nation. At Mount Pleasant, we understand the importance of promoting positive relationships both within our school and in the wider community. Where possible, staff are encouraged to link in the works of local artists, as well as western/non-western crafts people and designers. This in turn, develops a real sense of relevance, aspiration and respect for other artforms within different cultures and highlights the importance of heritage.
Through the teaching in our school, we value the importance of how art can promote creativity and mental well-being with our pupils. Children engage in creative activities which allows them to express themselves, thus promoting self-regulation which improves their mood. We want children to feel a sense of happiness and accomplishment when they persevere (resilience) and see their creations come to life.
Our end goal is to ignite a passion and love for art in our school and for every child to feel like they are an artist.
‘Every child is an artist’ -Pablo Picasso
National Curriculum
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 Mount Pleasant
