At Horton Grange Primary School, we see art as the expression of ideas, thoughts and feelings through sensory experiences and explore these in a variety of two and three-dimensional media.  Pupils are taught about great artists, craft makers and designers, and understand the historical and cultural development of their art forms. Pupils are taught to be creative and develop their skills through using different techniques in Art. Pupils produce creative work, exploring their ideas and recording their experiences. The teaching of art stimulates and encourages creativity and imagination and is a powerful tool for enhancing mental wellbeing. It provides a unique way of understanding and responding to the world.

The use of the Maestro Curriculum ensures that our Art lessons are well sequenced so that by the end of each year, pupils gain the appropriate practical knowledge (knowledge of the methods), theoretical knowledge (knowledge of artists and artworks) and disciplinary knowledge (knowledge about how art is studied and discussed) for each year group. Our Art curriculum is structured so that pupils will have been exposed to a rich and broad variety of information, examples, illustrations and experiences to support their learning.

Early Years:

The art curriculum begins as soon as the children start school in the EYFS. Learning in art links to the EYFS Statutory Educational Programme: Expressive Art and Design. The activities and enhanced provision in our early years curriculum provide regular opportunities for children to explore and play with a wide range of media and materials to build skills and knowledge that they can apply in KS1 and beyond.

Key Stage 1

In Year 1, pupils explore themes directly related to themselves, such as their facial features, the surrounding natural world and their local community. In Year 2, the projects expand the pupil’s artistic horizons to study a more comprehensive range of artists, artistic movements and creative techniques.

Lower Key Stage 2

In Lower Key Stage 2, pupils expand their experiences to study a broader range of art forms, artists and genres. They learn specialised techniques in drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture and textiles. They also explore art from specific and diverse periods of history, including prehistoric pottery, Roman mosaics, medieval weaving and Islamic art.

Upper Key Stage 2

 In Upper Key Stage 2, pupils develop and combine more complex artistic techniques in a range of genres, including drawing, painting, printmaking and sculpture. They continue to build on their understanding of other historical periods and cultures by studying the ancient Chinese art form of ‘taotie’ and the significance of the Expressionist movement. In Year 6, pupils are encouraged to work more independently in projects like ‘Environmental Artists’ and ‘Distortion and Abstraction’. Such projects require them to consider more conceptual representations of personal, environmental, social or political messaging. They explore diversity in art by studying the projects ‘Inuit and Trailblazers’ and ‘Barrier Breakers’.