Art and Design Curriculum at Geoffrey Field Junior School
The aims of our Art curriculum
At Geoffrey Field Junior School, we recognise that art and design makes a vital contribution to education, both as a subject to be developed and enjoyed in its own right and as a means to enrich and encourage learning in other subject areas. We believe that exploring and creating art and design stimulates creativity and imagination.
It is our aim, within art and design, that all pupils:
Our Art curriculum
Our art curriculum is designed to allow pupils to learn new skills whilst also allowing them opportunity to practise these skills and become more proficient in key areas of art: drawing, painting and sculpture. We recognise that pupils need the opportunity to learn a skill and then be able to apply this skill in a different context. Where necessary, pupils are also given the opportunity to revisit skills and have time to practise these further. We also recognise that pupils need a chance to explore freely, use their own imaginations and work towards their own varied and individual artwork. Our curriculum is designed to allow pupils to do all of this although we recognise that the balance may vary depending on the pupil’s existing skills and abilities.
How our art curriculum is organised?
Our art curriculum is organised into units of work. Each year group has 3 units of work. Each unit focuses on a different art medium and different artists and craft makers are studied within each unit. Designers are also studied within our DT curriculum in more detail.
Our art units of work
Each unit of work is sequenced carefully to ensure breadth and depth of coverage of the Art National Curriculum. Each art unit allows opportunities to:
Art skills are taught within each unit and are split into these main areas:
There is a progression of the 5 main skills from Y3 to Y6 so that, as children move through the school, they build on previous knowledge and skills and are given more demanding tasks. We also have a progression of art vocabulary which children learn and build on year on year.
Other opportunities in art
Whilst we believe in delivering high quality art lessons, where children are able to learn specific areas of art in depth, we also believe that it is important for them to experience a breadth of art and design opportunities. As well as art lessons, pupils have the opportunity to widen their art experiences in various art-based university courses, where the children can learn more about a particular artist or develop skills in a different specific medium. Courses such as outdoor art, weaving and textiles, printing, Mondrian, Pop art have been some of the art options for the children to choose from.
We also run an annual Art Week with a themed focus where the children get to widen their skills and experiences in art. This week, celebrating the children’s art, climaxes in a public art gallery. Where possible, children are encouraged to visit local and national galleries and trips during Arts Week have enabled pupils to visit and experience art galleries. Pupils have also had the opportunity to work with artists and local crafts people during the week, finding out how an art project develops.
Localised Curriculum
At Geoffrey Field, our localised curriculum is woven into our Art curriculum, to ensure we focus on areas of importance and barriers for our pupils.
Geoffrey Field Junior School
Exbourne Rd
Reading
Berkshire
RG2 8RH
Tel: 0118 937 5475
Email : admin@geoffreyfield-jun.reading.sch.uk