Art Curriculum Statement  

Intent 

To develop the creativity and cultural capital of our students by providing them with access to a variety of practical skills, processes and techniques, knowledge of a wide range of artists, movements and styles as well as developing transferable reflective, analytical and critical thinking skills.

“Before a child talks, they sing. As soon as they stand, they dance. Before they write, they draw. Art is fundamental to human expression.” – Phylicia Rashad

The art curriculum across the trust ignites imagination, inspires creativity and excites pupils as they recognise that everything they encounter has been designed by someone, whose ideas began with pencil and paper. Our curriculum develops cultural and creative capital of our students by providing them with access to a variety of practical skills, processes and techniques. As well as the social and academic capital involved in applying the knowledge learned about a wide range of artists, movements and styles as well as developing transferable reflective and analytical thinking skills.

Our curriculum creates opportunity for expression and imagination in the handling of images and artefacts from different historical periods and cultures, art encourages awareness beyond a western dimension which we feel is vital in today’s society. It links into every aspect of the world and aims to prepare them for a varied and multiple career options post education, building a lifelong passion for all aspects of the Arts.

 

The Art curriculum will: 

• Encourage the development of the Academy’s values: wisdom, curiosity, generosity, courage and passion. 

• Ensure that pupils are challenged, engaged and motivated to be able: 

• At a personal level, to develop increasing levels of reflection, confidence, expression, self-worth and cultural capital.  

• At an economic level, to develop and be able to apply not only the vast range of skills necessary to access one of the fastest growing industries in the UK today but also transferable skills which set them in a strong position to enter any role successfully, understanding the importance of diversity and imagination in their approaches to problem solving. 

• At a societal level, to play a meaningful role in their local, national and international communities, recognising the importance of a wide variety of cultural, social and contextual influences in their everyday life. 

• Provide a coherent knowledge base that is appropriately powerful, transferable and intelligently sequenced, thereby enabling pupils to retain and recall knowledge, develop understanding and apply skills. 

• Provide a meaningful experience that can be used to build wider cultural capital and cognitive ability. 

• Celebrate pupil activities within and beyond formal timetabled arrangements that are memorable, inspiring and life-changing. 

Implementation 

To implement the intended curriculum, a number of conceptual and organisational frameworks are used: 

• Curriculum flightpaths identifies key knowledge, skills and understanding of assessment criteria throughout KS3-5 

• Departmental curriculum review frameworks which supports the review of the curriculum offer and assessment practice. 

• Departmental SoWs balance development and application of knowledge, skills and creative processes, carefully exposing students to a diverse range of cultural and contextual influences as well as allowing them to identify a variety of methods for the implementation of the formal elements. Detailed SoW are produced for each project clearly identifying: 

• Overarching learning objectives and intended skills development, ensuring all learners build clear understanding of the formal elements and necessary techniques as they progress. 

• Artist focus and key activities, ensuring continuity for a coherent and meaningful experience across the department whilst allowing staff freedom in their pedagogical approaches. 

• Stretch and challenge opportunities to further develop confidence, independence and metacognitive ability. 

• Literacy opportunities, supporting the academies emphasis on Language for Learning, providing a framework to create and refine successful approaches to the teaching of Reading, Writing and Speaking with an emphasis on reflection, evaluation and analysis.  

• Numeracy opportunities emphasising the practical application of numeracy skills such as scale, proportion, ratios etc. 

• SMSC and core academy values with an emphasis on curiosity, passion and self-awareness to develop confidence and resilience as learners. 

• Extracurricular and cross curricular provision reviews allow students the opportunity to participate in larger scale Art projects develop from a broad range of cultural and contextual influences and receive nationally recognised qualifications in the form of Arts Award. 

• Maximising Learning as well as regular attendance at LTSA SCN meetings and regular departmental skills share sessions provide a supportive framework for the wider development of effective pedagogical approaches. 

• Maximising Effectiveness provides a suite of CPD opportunities for staff within the academy to further generate an enthusiasm for and enjoyment of their professional practice.

Impact 

The department’s continued focus on the curriculum improves: 

• The quality of education for all learners and groups of learners 

• The personal development and well-being of learners 

• The chances for pupils to move successfully onto the next stage of their lives. 

• The cultural, economic and societal capital to become citizens of the world 

Please click on the link below in order to access the KS3-5 curriculum map.

Art Curriculum