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Brackenwood Junior School

Art Curriculum at Brackenwood Junior School

Art Intent

Within the Oak Trees Multi Academy Trust, we believe that all children should have high ambitions and have the opportunity to reach their full potential.

They ethos of our school centres on the children; what they need, how they learn and how they develop as individuals. Children at Brackenwood are happy and secure at school and the ethos of putting children first is reflected in every aspect of our day to day practice. Lessons are stimulating and children are active in making decisions about how and what they are learning. All pupils have thinking- lessons have a large focus on questioning, discussions and retrieval, drawing on prior knowledge from their long-term memory.

 Art within Brackenwood Junior School strives to inspire children to become creative, forward thinking individuals. Our curriculum allows children to explore their imagination and express their thoughts and opinions about the world in which they live in. Art lessons enable pupils to explore emotions, their sense of self and opportunities to interpret ideas creatively. Throughout the primary years, children are exposed to a wide range of stimulus, which encourages them to consider what the artist or culture is trying to express and explore how this can be accomplished. Stimuli have been carefully selected to represent genders, cultural influences and classical vs modern pieces.

 Throughout their art journey through school, pupils will have the opportunity to work with a variety of mediums and explore techniques that then are used to enhance their own artwork. Children both work independently and collaboratively on projects and when planning, creating and refining their ideas. Natural links are made to other areas of the curriculum such as history, design and technology, literacy and mathematics.

Implementation

Art at Brackenwood Junior School allows children to appreciate great artists and craftspeople to develop an understanding of how art can be produced and the skills involved. The teaching of Art throughout the school follows the National Curriculum and has been developed with research and teacher’s expertise to deliver high quality, progressive and creative sequences of lessons. Our curriculum has been designed to ensure pupils engage in a variety of techniques and pose questions whilst exploring artists from around the world.

 The coverage across the school has been planned to ensure key elements are built upon throughout the children’s primary education. As children progress throughout the year groups, they are able to draw on their previously learnt knowledge and skills to create increasingly more detailed and complex projects in the areas of; drawing, painting, printing, collage and the 3D aspect which cover crafts such as textiles, working with malleable materials and sculpture. Lessons are based on observing, understanding and applying the 8 principles of art. The concepts of the elements of art include; line, form, shape, colour, value, texture and space. These are interwoven through children’s analysis of examples of art, and then applied to their own pieces of work.

Each unit, pupils explore carefully chosen examples of a given stimulus or artist. They then experience and experiment with relevant skills relating to the media. Children are encouraged to use their knowledge to imagine and plan for their own piece of work. Pupils apply their skills and knowledge to create their ideas, which go through a process of refinement and reflection. Classes are encouraged to think creatively about how to present and celebrate their work so that it can be experienced by others. Children have the opportunity to talk with adults and peers to express their motivation behind creating their pieces of artwork.

Impact

The comprehensive Art curriculum at Brackenwood Junior School is essential for the holistic development of our pupils. Through various artistic activities, pupils enhance their creative, cognitive, emotional, and social skills. Art projects encourage critical thinking, problem-solving, and the analysis of visual information, while also improving performance in other academic subjects by developing fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and spatial awareness.

Art provides a vital platform for pupils to express themselves non-verbally, building self-esteem and confidence. The creative process helps pupils manage their emotions and build resilience. Group art projects promote teamwork, effective communication, and respect for diverse perspectives. Exposure to different art forms and cultures fosters empathy and broadens their worldview.

The Art curriculum nurtures creativity and imagination, crucial in today’s world. Art exhibitions and events strengthen school-community relationships by involving parents and community members. Overall, the Art curriculum at Brackenwood Junior School significantly impacts pupils' academic success, personal development, and social skills, equipping them with the tools to thrive in all aspects of life.