"Pupils are proud of the impressive array of knowledge that they develop over time. They put this knowledge to effective use across the curriculum."
Learning and Curriculum

Art and Design

Statement of Intent for Art and Design

The Art and Design curriculum at Masefield is rooted in the belief that art provides a medium for pupils to understand and evaluate the thoughts, feelings and ideas of others and to express their own. Art and design embody some of the highest forms of human creativity and we believe that it is our duty to develop cultural appreciation of art and to develop knowledge of key individuals and their contributions in this field. It is through these key principles that we engage, inspire and challenge pupils whilst equipping them with knowledge and skills to explore, invent and create their own works of art and craft.

At Masefield, Art and Design is taught as a discrete subject in order that the development of knowledge and skills is taught meaningfully and explicitly. Naturally, links are made to other areas of the curriculum but this does not dilute the quality and entitlement of high quality Art and Design teaching.

 

Art and Design Curriculum

The school’s long term plan for Art and Design sets out the content of teaching within in each year group. This is supported by the school’s Art and Design progression document which demonstrates learning outcomes within each strand of development within an Art and Design unit. Short term planning details how this content is developed over a series of lessons within the unit of work.  The organisation of the Art and Design curriculum provides structured opportunities for pupils to:

  • record responses, including observations of the natural and made environment;

  • gather resources and materials, using them to stimulate and develop ideas;

  • explore and use two and three-dimensional media, working on a variety of scales;

  • review and modify their work as it progresses;

  • develop understanding of the work of artists, craftspeople and designers from a range of times and cultures, applying knowledge to their own work;

  • respond to and evaluate art and craft including their own and others’ work;

  • show development in their ability to create images;

  • understand and apply the basic principles of art and craft to include: Line, tone, texture, shape, form, space, pattern, colour, contrast, composition, proportion and perspective;

  • realise their ideas and sustain a level of working from start to the completion of a project or a piece of work.

Art and Design Curriculum

Art and Design Journey 

 

Art and Design Policy

Art and Design Policy

 

Knowledge Organisers for Art and Design

Below is an example knowledge organiser from each year group for Art and Design:

Year One - Drawing

Year Two - Collage

Year Three - Drawing

Year Four - Sculpture

Year Five - Drawing

Year Six - Collage

These are sent home each half term as part of the curriculum overviews. EYFS Knowledge Organisers can be found in the EYFS tab.

 

High quality texts underpinning our Art and Design curriculum

Art and Design is promoted throughout our core lessons at Masefield which means knowledge and vocabulary is consistently being revisited throughout the curriculum. We use high quality fiction and non-fiction texts to inspire our children to create high quality pieces of writing, encourage the love of reading and embed their Art and Design skills further.

Our Award Winning Art and Design Provision

Artsmark Silver Award - Achieved 2019

Masefield holds the Silver status for Artsmark. Artsmark is Arts Council England’s flagship programme to enable schools and other organisations to evaluate, strengthen and celebrate their arts and cultural provision. This award is currently being renewed.

Other Relevant Information

Below you will find more information relevant to the teaching of Art and Design at Masefield Primary School.

At Masefield Primary School, all year groups, including EYFS, take part in exciting and inspiring art showcases where parents and carers can celebrate their child/children’s achievements. We have a wide range of local Artists and art specialists who come in to work alongside the teachers and children to model and develop on year group specific art knowledge, skills and techniques.

Professional artist Rachel Hyde is also a regular visitor at Masefield Primary School; she carries out whole class workshops with Year 5 to produce a collaborative piece to be displayed within the school.

Art school trips are planned throughout the year to enrich our curriculum, and create exciting, authentic experiences for our children. These trips are valuable learning experiences, giving the children opportunities to see artists work first hand and appreciate different forms of art and culture.

The children in Year 4 visit the Lowry Art Gallery in Manchester. They are taken on a guided tour to find out about Lowry and his work, before sketching from some of his famous paintings and creating small sculpture models of Lowry’s famous match stick men.

Alongside learning about Van Gogh in Year 5, children visited the Van Gogh live experience at the Media City in Salford. Children were immersed in the famous works of this artist in a multi-sensory environment. During this visit, children also explored the sunflower fields and starry night.

They take their sketchbooks along with them and use a range of pencil gradients to sketch and shade some of these pieces of work from first-hand experience.  

All children at Masefield Primary School are provided with the opportunity to take part in Art and Design Enrichment sessions that are led by high quality educators. This sits alongside the national curriculum objectives and children are given the opportunity during these sessions to practise and embed their skills.

Throughout each Art and Design unit, children will explore the life and work of a range of artists, craft-makers, designers and architects. This is important for a number of reasons:

1. Broadens Cultural Awareness and Appreciation

Exploring artists from different periods, cultures, and backgrounds helps children develop an understanding and appreciation of the rich diversity within the art world. It encourages respect for different perspectives and fosters a more inclusive worldview.

2. Encourages Creativity and Self-Expression

When children encounter varied artistic styles, techniques, and media, they are inspired to experiment in their own work. This helps them find their own artistic voice and express themselves more confidently and imaginatively.

3. Develops Critical Thinking

Studying different artists encourages children to observe closely, ask questions, and interpret meaning. They learn to make connections between ideas, analyse visual information, and articulate their thoughts—skills that are transferable across the curriculum.

4. Builds Historical and Social Understanding

Artists often respond to the events, issues, and ideas of their time. Through studying their work, children gain insight into historical movements, social changes, and the human experience across time and place.

5. Promotes Aspiration and Belonging

Seeing artists from a wide range of backgrounds helps children recognise that art is for everyone. It allows them to see themselves reflected in the curriculum, raising aspirations and a sense of belonging in the creative world.

6. Enhances Technical Knowledge and Skill

By studying different artists, children are introduced to a variety of materials, techniques, and artistic approaches. This strengthens their practical skills and equips them with a toolkit of strategies to apply in their own work.

 

The artists, craft-makers, designers and architects our children study in Art and Design are:

Year One – Wassily Kandinsky, Anni Albers and David Hockney

Year Two – Paul Klee, Andy Goldsworthy, Iris Scott and Jesse Treece

Year Three – Georgia O’Keeffe, Henri Matisse and Salvador Dali

Year Four – Claude Monet, Beatriz Milhazes, L.S Lowry and Thutmose

Year Five – Vincent Van Gogh, Louis Mbughuni and Andy Warhol

Year Six – Pablo Picasso, Frida Kahlo, David Oliveira and Rosemary Karuga.

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