Art & Design at Comberton

We follow the National Curriculum for Art and Design

Art, craft and design embody some of the highest forms of human creativity. 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.

Art and Design Technology are taught in blocks alternately at the end of each half term. Across Art week, children plan and develop their skills and ideas around a topic, working towards their final piece. We have lots of exciting topics which fit the new curriculum, from Roman mosaics to Viking Jewellery! We look at a variety of techniques including collage, printing, drawing, sculpture, painting, textiles, computer and 3D design and also explore and reflect on work of many different artists. As well as working and developing ideas in sketch books, we like to exhibit our art around the school.

Art and Design Milestones

We are developing our curriculum to ensure that our pupils gain a depth of knowledge; we promote the progression of skills; and teach through an effective sequence of learning.

We wish to develop the following 'Essential Characteristics' in our pupils as artists:

• The ability to use visual language skillfully and convincingly (for example, line, shape, pattern, colour, texture, form) to express emotions, interpret observations, convey insights and accentuate their individuality.
• The ability to communicate fluently in visual and tactile form.
• The ability to draw confidently and adventurously from observation, memory and imagination.
• The ability to explore and invent marks, develop and deconstruct ideas and communicate perceptively and powerfully through purposeful drawing in 2D, 3D or digital media.
• An impressive knowledge and understanding of other artists, craft makers and designers.
• The ability to think and act like creative practitioners by using their knowledge and understanding to inform, inspire and interpret ideas, observations and feelings.
• Independence, initiative and originality which they can use to develop their creativity.
• The ability to select and use materials, processes and techniques skilfully and inventively to realise intentions and capitalise on the unexpected.
• The ability to reflect on, analyse and critically evaluate their own work and that of others.
• A passion for and a commitment to the subject.