At Hethersett VC Primary School, we believe in a curriculum that is broad, balanced and valued across all subjects. Our Art and Design curriculum inspires creativity, develops confidence and encourages children to express themselves whilst exploring the world around them. We recognise that every child is unique, valued and celebrated, and we provide opportunities for all pupils to experiment, create, reflect and succeed.

Our curriculum is designed to:

• Recognise prior learning, provide first-hand experiences and build resilience
• Develop interpersonal skills, encourage creativity and foster critical thinking
• Promote purposeful learning, enjoyable experiences and coherent progression
• Nurture curiosity, imagination and a lifelong appreciation of the arts

We use the Kapow Primary Art and Design curriculum to deliver engaging, progressive and inspiring lessons. The curriculum is carefully sequenced from Reception to Year 6, enabling children to develop their artistic knowledge, skills and understanding over time. Pupils explore a wide range of disciplines including drawing, painting, sculpture, mixed media, craft and design whilst studying the work of significant artists, designers and craftspeople from different cultures and periods. 

Our Curriculum Approach

Art and Design forms part of our carefully planned foundation curriculum, which is structured around termly themes and three overarching concepts:

• Systems – understanding how things work and how parts fit together
• Connection – recognising relationships between people, places and ideas
• Change – exploring how things develop, adapt and evolve over time

These concepts are revisited throughout pupils' time at Hethersett, enabling them to build understanding over time. Learning begins with concrete and familiar experiences in Key Stage 1 and develops into increasingly sophisticated, abstract and evaluative thinking by the end of Key Stage 2.

Art is taught as a discrete subject through the Kapow curriculum, ensuring that children develop secure artistic knowledge, vocabulary and practical skills. Where appropriate, teachers draw attention to meaningful links with the wider curriculum theme, helping pupils make connections across their learning while maintaining the integrity of the subject.

Intent

Our aim is to nurture pupils' creativity, imagination and visual literacy, encouraging them to think and work like artists and designers. We want children to develop the confidence to experiment, take creative risks and communicate their ideas through a range of visual and tactile media.

Through the curriculum, pupils:

• Develop artistic skills and knowledge progressively across the school
• Learn to observe closely, evaluate thoughtfully and create purposefully
• Explore how art reflects and influences cultures, communities and societies
• Build an appreciation of artistic achievement across different periods and traditions
• Understand that art is a powerful form of human expression
• Develop resilience through refining, adapting and improving their work
• Grow in confidence as independent and reflective learners

Our curriculum enables pupils to appreciate the diversity of artistic expression whilst developing their own creative voice. Through studying a wide range of artists, craftspeople and designers, children gain an understanding of how art both reflects and shapes the world around them.

Our Christian values of wisdom, compassion, friendship, truthfulness and responsibility support children in becoming thoughtful and reflective artists who respect the ideas and perspectives of others whilst developing confidence in their own creativity.

Implementation

Art and Design is taught through the carefully structured Kapow Primary curriculum, which provides clear progression in both knowledge and skills. Lessons build on prior learning and are organised into units that allow pupils to revisit, practise and deepen their understanding over time. 

Children learn through:

• Drawing, painting, sculpture and mixed media
• Exploring the work of diverse artists, designers and craftspeople
• Developing artistic vocabulary and visual literacy
• Experimenting with materials, techniques and creative processes
• Planning, creating, evaluating and improving their work
• First-hand experiences, enrichment opportunities and meaningful curriculum links

Throughout their journey, pupils progressively develop their understanding of:

• Line
• Tone
• Texture
• Colour
• Form
• Pattern
• Composition
• Shape and space

Children begin in Reception by exploring mark making, painting, collage, sculpture and craft activities that develop fine motor skills and creative confidence. As they move through Key Stages 1 and 2, they build increasingly sophisticated knowledge and skills through observational drawing, colour theory, clay work, textiles, mixed media and installation art. 

The structure of our curriculum ensures that pupils revisit key knowledge, techniques and concepts regularly, allowing understanding to become increasingly secure and embedded.

Impact

The impact of our Art and Design curriculum is seen in the creativity, confidence and enthusiasm with which pupils approach artistic learning.

Throughout lessons, teachers use formative assessment strategies including:

• Questioning and discussion
• Retrieval activities
• Observation of practical work
• Pupil self-reflection and evaluation

These approaches enable teachers to assess understanding and adapt teaching to meet pupils' needs.

Each Kapow unit also includes assessment opportunities which allow teachers to evaluate how well pupils have retained key knowledge, vocabulary and skills whilst identifying next steps for learning.

By the time they leave Hethersett VC Primary School, pupils will:

• Have developed a secure foundation of artistic knowledge, skills and techniques
• Be able to discuss art confidently using appropriate subject vocabulary
• Understand how art and design reflect different cultures, beliefs and experiences
• Make connections between artistic movements, artists and historical periods
• Demonstrate creativity, independence and resilience when creating and evaluating artwork
• Appreciate the value of art as a form of expression, communication and cultural understanding
• Leave with the confidence to continue their artistic journey as lifelong learners

Throughout their time at Hethersett, children enjoy a rich range of creative experiences, educational visits and inspiring opportunities that bring Art and Design to life, allowing them to explore, create, reflect and celebrate their achievements as young artists.