Art Intent Statement

At St Michael with St John CE Primary School, we believe Art and Design should inspire every child to become a confident, creative and reflective artist. Through an ambitious and progressive curriculum, pupils develop the knowledge, skills and confidence to explore, experiment and express their own ideas whilst appreciating the work of artists, designers and craftspeople from a wide range of cultures, periods and traditions.

Our Art curriculum is delivered through the Kapow Primary Scheme of Work, which has been carefully sequenced to ensure that artistic knowledge, technical skills and creative understanding build progressively from the Early Years Foundation Stage through to the end of Key Stage Two. Each unit develops pupils' understanding of drawing, painting, sculpture, printing, textiles, collage and digital art whilst revisiting and refining previously taught skills.

We aim for every child to:

• develop confidence when using a wide range of artistic media, materials and techniques;
• explore, experiment and take creative risks as they develop their own artistic style;
• study and respond to the work of diverse artists, designers and craftspeople, understanding how art reflects different cultures, experiences and historical periods;
• develop the technical vocabulary needed to discuss, evaluate and refine their own work and that of others;
• become resilient learners who understand that creativity develops through practice, reflection and refinement;
• appreciate the value of art and design as a means of communication, self-expression and cultural understanding.

As a language-rich school, the explicit teaching of artistic vocabulary is an integral part of every lesson. Pupils are encouraged to discuss artwork, explain artistic choices, evaluate techniques and reflect on their learning using increasingly sophisticated subject-specific language. Oracy is threaded throughout the curriculum, enabling pupils to articulate ideas, justify decisions and evaluate creative outcomes with confidence.

High-quality teacher modelling, guided practice and opportunities for experimentation enable pupils to develop technical proficiency before applying their learning independently. Sketchbooks are used as working documents where pupils practise skills, explore ideas, record observations, reflect on their learning and demonstrate progression over time.

We are committed to ensuring that Art is accessible to every learner. Through adaptive teaching, appropriate scaffolds and high expectations, all pupils are supported to access the curriculum, develop confidence and experience success as artists whilst maintaining the intended learning outcomes.

Our Art curriculum reflects our Christian vision of 'With God all things are possible' (Matthew 19:26). By encouraging creativity, perseverance and appreciation of the diverse ways people express themselves, we nurture pupils who value their own unique talents and respect the creativity of others. We aim to foster curiosity, imagination and confidence so that every child leaves SMSJ with a lifelong appreciation of art and the creative process.