Art and Design & Technology

"Every child is an artist" - Pablo Picasso

Below outlines our curriculum overview for both Art and Design and Design and Technology.

Art and Design

Isaiah 64:8 - But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.

Intent: At St James’ we have a truly creative curriculum, this covers all areas of the arts, crafts and design. We aim to ensure that all children produce imaginative and creative work, exploring their ideas and recording their experiences, which incorporates our school vision ‘Let Your Light Shine’. We strive to support children in becoming proficient in drawing, painting, sculpture and other art, craft and design techniques. Children are encouraged to become inspired by evaluating and analysing creative works using the language of art, craft and design. During this time, we encourage children to ask questions, think critically and articulate what they know about great artists, craft makers, engineers and designers, supporting their understanding of the historical and cultural development of their art forms.

Implementation: As our pupils’ progress throughout St James', we inspire children to become confident, independent artists who can articulate and value their own creative journeys. As well as engaging in activities in the classroom, we combine trips, workshops and extra-curricular clubs, helping bring the children's learning to life. Our curriculum is centred around a creative learning cycle focusing on four key skills: Taking Inspiration, Developing Ideas, Mastering Techniques and Evaluating. Skills are taught through carefully planned lessons linked to the children’s overarching topic. At St James’ teachers are provided with creative freedom, planning lessons around next steps in progression of skills. Teachers are aware of the creative journey the children are taking and, as part of our quality-first teaching, lessons are planned around further developing skills, which enable children to be proficient in drawing, painting, sculpture and other art forms. Throughout the children’s time at St James’, parents and carers also play a vital role in their child’s creative journey. Home-learning projects linked to topics are encouraged and parents/carers are invited to yearly exhibitions showcasing the children’s Art creations, which enable the children to shine!

Impact: Through our creative curriculum, children are encouraged to let their light shine and our Art curriculum at St James’ enables children to do so. As quoted by Picasso, “every child is an artist.” As children leave St James’ they are passionate about art and creativity, and through our progression of skills, have grown in confidence when applying a range of tools and techniques. The children leave St James’ seeing themselves as artists, applying the skills and well-rounded knowledge they have developed throughout their creative journey, which began in EYFS.

Design and Technology

Exodus 35:31 - and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills

Intent: At St James’ our Design and Technology curriculum aims to encourage children to express their creativity via producing and designing, which encompasses our school vision ‘Let Your Light Shine’. When taking part in Design and Technology lessons, we endeavour to support children to combine their designing and making abilities with knowledge and understanding. We strive to provide a curriculum that enables children to learn and practise a range of skills in a progressive way as they transition throughout school. Children are encouraged to develop and use a wealth of knowledge, understanding, and abilities to create high-quality products for a variety of users by conducting in-depth research, demonstrating initiative, and posing questions to enhance their products. Children are also encouraged to do this through evaluation, which is a vital aspect of the design process and a crucial life skill.

Implementation: Through quality-first teaching and planning, children at St James’ follow a rigorous curriculum, supported by the scheme ‘Projects on a Page’. Our curriculum builds on prior learning, and enables children to develop a range of skills within a particular unit of Design and Technology, allowing children to develop their creativity, designing and producing skills as they progress all the way from EYFS to Year 6. Across the year, each year group cover three units, with an additional whole-school focus on Food. In addition to this, quality first teaching is at the forefront of our curriculum and children are provided with a range of opportunities to develop their design and technology skills focusing on a creative cycle of lessons, linking to three main learning aims: design, make and evaluate. Alongside these learning aims; the children develop their technical knowledge through creative opportunities linked to real life purposes in our ever-growing technological world.

Impact: At St James’ we strive for our children to become lifelong, independent learners. Through our progression of skills children will leave St James’ with a well-rounded understanding of each unit, equipping them with the knowledge and understanding to solve real life problems using innovation and creativity. As designers and creators, the children will leave St James’ with skills and attributes that they are able to use across a variety of subjects, and beyond their time at St James’.

Artist of the Term Home Learning Project

Each term we are going to explore a different artist and their work. As a home learning project, the children can respond to this artist by researching and further developing their Art skills by creating a piece of Art inspired by the artist of the term.

This term's artist is: Vincent van Gogh

Vincent van Gogh is one of the most famous and influential artists in history. He produced some of the most recognisable and popular art in the world. He lived during an incredibly exciting period in the history of art and played an important role in the development of the art movement known as post-impressionism.

https://www.tate.org.uk/kids/make/paint-draw/create-art-van-gogh

Don't forget to share your creations with us!

Below are some more exciting Art and Design & Technology resources for you to explore at home:

Our Curriculum

Art and Design & Technology

Artist of the Term Home Learning Project

Contact Details and Quick Links