Art
Art at Warmsworth Primary School
At WPS, a bespoke art curriculum has been crafted with the needs of our children at the centre alongside the whole school vision, beliefs and developments.
The art curriculum is aspirational and promotes the vision that all children are artists; all able to become 21st century citizens able to achieve a career in the wide and varied art profession.
The art curriculum is designed to develop children’s creativity and imagination, with opportunities for all. Kagan strategies are used to encourage children to explore how collaboration can be a good learning experience for those involved. Each artist will inform the other on how to improve the direction of the combined effort. This exchange of ideas and process can be very healthy for all of our artists. As artists, children value collaboration and how together we achieve more.
We want children to enjoy the subject and feel proud of their outcomes. Cultural capital is promoted and children are given opportunities to develop knowledge and understanding of global artists and craft makers, unlocking their own creativity and feeling inspired by art from around the world and in our local context of Doncaster by capitalizing on the local galleries. With first-hand experiences, children thrive on the exploration and discovery that shapes their knowledge and understanding of how and why different tools and media achieve different outcomes. The information they gather in this way is not simply filed in a memory bank for later reference, but worked through and repeated countless times in different situations, allowing them to process and make sense of what they have learned.
Warmsworth Primary School Art Progression Document
To ensure a broad and balanced curriculum, the art curriculum is led by 4 concepts: drawing, painting, sculpture, and learning about artists.
The progression document outlines the skills to be taught each year across all 4 areas. These have been developed to meet and exceed the requirements of the NC. By developing their control and mastery of tools, techniques and media, they can express their ideas successfully.
Over a year, 3 main art topics are planned - drawing, painting, sculpture - with opportunity given to study an appropriate artist.
Over a half term, children will investigate media, tools and techniques, develop relevant skills and investigate an artist if appropriate, culminating into producing a piece of art. They will also be given opportunity to evaluate their learning.
The curriculum is sequenced to build on knowledge and skills ensuring control of tools, techniques and media is developed each year and pupils become increasingly aware of a range of artists. Meaningful art outcomes are achieved through careful collaboration made between subject leaders and class teachers to ensure pupils are successful and they value where art fits into their wider learning.
Children’s metacognitive development is enhanced through the delivery of a careful learning sequence, and, alongside high expectations and a culture in school where art is appreciated, challenge is celebrated and the highest possible outcomes are achievable by all.
Teachers use a variety of tools and media confidently. Quality training and CPD is provided on an individual basis and through targeted group support ensuring the best possible curriculum is offered. Use of new, unusual or little-used resources is shared and supported as necessary.
High quality work is displayed and celebrated widely across school and we also have an annual Art Award where artwork is judged by our School Councillors and the winners are awarded with artistic resources.
The impact of the art curriculum is seen through the high quality artwork displayed throughout school which is appreciated by pupils, parents, the wider community and commented upon by all visitors to school.
Children enjoy the subject and are eager to learn. Pupil voice echoes the success of the subject and pupils refer to ‘being able to be artists’ and show a positive ‘can-do’ approach to developing their skills. Skills are embedded and applied in a variety of contexts both within an art lesson and in incidental art experiences which enhance the wider curriculum. They are becoming more skilful and standards remain high. This is reflected in lesson visits and work scrutiny.
Because children reflect positively on their art learning, they are able to celebrate it on a wider scale including having work displayed in their classrooms, around school and on the school website for a wider audience and by sharing their work with other staff members.
Children have an improved cultural capital through study of artists from different cultures, and as 21st century citizens, children are able to articulate possible career choices through art.
Children leave WPS able to enrich their lives through an appreciation of the art around them.
Warmsworth Primary School Art Exhibition for the Stancee Wedd Art Award
The Stancee Wedd Art Award is presented at the end of the academic year to one of our children, after their work has been included in our art exhibition and chosen as the winner by our school councillors . This award is named after one of our long-standing Chair of Governors at our school, who had a love of art and always wanted to ensure it was promoted in our school.
Stancee Wedd Art Award Exhibition 2023
Warmsworth Primary School