Implementation:
At Holy Trinity, we teach Art weekly in half term blocks throughout the year, alternating with Design & Technology (DT).
Our scheme of work is designed with 5 strands that run throughout. These are:
- Making skills (including formal elements – line, shape, tone, texture, pattern, colour)
- Generating ideas (taking inspiration from a range of artists and crafts people)
- Using sketchbooks
- Knowledge of artists (work and techniques)
- Evaluating and analysing (critiquing their own work and that of others)
Units of lessons are sequential, allowing children to build their skills and knowledge, applying them to a range of outcomes. The formal elements (as shown above) which are a key part of the NC, are also woven throughout units. Key skills are revisited again and again with increasing complexity in a ‘spiral’ curriculum model which allows pupils to revise and build on previous learning. Units in each year group are organised into 4 core areas:
- Drawing
- Painting and mixed-media
- Sculpture and 3D
- Craft and design
Our units fully scaffold and support essential and age-appropriate sequenced learning, as well as being flexible enough to be adapted to form cross curricular links with our frequently updated curriculum at Holy Trinity, should we wish to. Creativity and independent outcomes are robustly embedded into our units, supporting children in learning how to make their own creative choices and decisions, so that their art outcomes, whilst still being knowledge-rich, are unique to the pupil and personal.
Lessons are practical in nature and encourage experimental and exploratory learning, with children using sketchbooks to document their ideas. Every lesson can be, and is, differentiated to ensure that they can be accessed and enjoyed by all pupils, and opportunities to stretch pupils’ learning if required, are provided. Knowledge Organisers for each unit support our children by providing a highly visual record of the key knowledge and techniques learned, encouraging recall of skills processes, key facts and vocabulary.
We show the children videos created by subject specialists to help pupils to see art techniques modelled by experts, to ensure delivery of Art at Holy Trinity is of the highest quality.