Intent

At St Gabriel’s, we value Art as an important part of the children’s entitlement to a broad and balanced curriculum. Art provides the children with the opportunities to develop and extend skills and an opportunity to express their individual interests, thought and ideas.

A high-quality art and design education should engage, inspire and challenge pupils, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to experiment invent and create their own works of art, craft and design. As pupils progress, they should be able to think critically and develop a more rigorous understanding of art and design. They should also know how art and design both reflect and shape our history, and contribute to the culture, creativity and wealth of our nation, through the study of a variety of culturally diverse art and artists.

Implementation

The teaching and implementation of the Art Curriculum at St Gabriel’s is based on the National Curriculum. We use the Kapow published Scheme of Work ensuring all areas of the National Curriculum are fully covered and there is clear progression in learning from Reception to Year 6. This is a holistic curriculum in which art and design skills flow between units and skills that are taught progress year on year.   We ensure that each child develops their skills and techniques in a way appropriate to them, through clear differentiation and support, active and purposeful experiences, and using a variety of art materials and teaching strategies. 

Impact

By the end of their time with us, we want pupils to have learned, improved and embedded a range of artistic skills. They should have an awareness of a broad range of artists and be able to consider and discuss the artworks they come across. We want our pupils to be confident to explore, experiment and take risks, placing value on the process and journey that they take, not just on the finished product. Most importantly, we want children to have found and enjoyed a creative outlet – a means of self-expression and enjoyment.

Intent

Learning within Design and Technology, stimulates creativity and imagination. It especially provides our younger students with visual, tactile and sensory experiences and a special way of understanding and responding to the world. At St Gabriel’s we hope to inspire, engage and challenge our students. Children will become involved in shaping their environment through design activities, involving different creative techniques. They will explore ideas and meaning through the work of artists and designers.

Implementation

To ensure we provide the students with a well-rounded curriculum, DT is regularly scheduled into every year group’s timetable and the children will cover an art or DT unit, alternating each half term. As with Art, we also use the Kapow published scheme of work. We also have additional opportunities to engage the students with design activities throughout the school year, such as workshops, gallery trips and incorporating DT skills into other parts of the curriculum. Within the untis, the four strands within the DT curriculum are covered: designing, making, evaluating and technical knowledge and skills are built on year on year, from Reception to Year 6.

We encourage each child to evaluate their design work and that of others, both with peers and adults. We hope that they can celebrate effort, progress and achievement in art through displays, exhibitions and competitions.

Impact

By the end of their time with us, we want pupils to have learned, improved and embedded a range of technical skills. They should have an awareness of a broad range of designers and be able to consider and discuss projects they come across. We want our pupils to be confident to explore, experiment and take risks, placing value on the process and journey that they take, not just on the finished product.