At Bitterley CE Primary we aim to inspire all children to reach their full academic potential. We aim to provide a wide range of experiences, look at artists from around the world and using a range of different media. We intend to forge links between art and the rest of the curriculum the children will be studying to help make connections between Art and the world around them. All pupils will experience art created by artists from different cultures and backgrounds, artists of different gender, and art and artists representing the diversity of the world we live in.

Our curriculum map has been created based on the resources and lesson ideas from Access Art. It has been designed to ensure full coverage of the National Curriculum, to ensure learning is sequential throughout EYFS - Year 6 and to ensure the art skills learnt are progressive and build upon prior knowledge throughout each year group. Learning is built through a weaving, layering and revisiting of experiences.

Children have opportunity to develop their skills within the following art forms, across different scales, independently and collaboratively:

• Sketchbook work
• Drawing
• Painting and collage
• Printing making and collage 
• 3D sculptures
• Digital media and animation

Pupils also have opportunities to explore artwork created by famous artisits, craftspeople, architects and designers from all cultures and times. This helps to generate discussions and questioning to inform their own ideas and preferences.

Implementation:

At Bitterley CE Primary we will provide a rich and interactive program of study following the Statutory Framework For The Early Years Foundation Stage, March 2021, and the 2014 National Curriculum objectives.

Teachers follow the AccessArt pathway plans tailored to the needs of classes and groups and constantly assess and adapt their teaching and activities to ensure all pupils make progress.   Pathways aim to connect Pedagogy-based resources and activity-based together with external links to websites which explore chosen artists/themes, to form a flexible structure which teachers can navigate easily. Pathways re-teach skills throughout the children’s time in school. Skills are revisited and honed in a spiral curriculum, which progresses in terms of depth and challenge, to build on the children’s previous learning. We utilise a sketchbook approach, so that children feel safe to experiment and take risks, without the fear of doing something “wrong”. We ensure that each child develops their skills and techniques in a way appropriate to them, through clear differentiation and support, active and purposeful experiences, and using a variety of art materials and teaching strategies. The emphasis is on journeyful teaching and learning which empowers teachers and pupils to become confident creative decision makers.

We advocate gentle, on going assessment based upon lots of conversation, to discover intention and understanding, as well as looking at outcomes of the journey and end result. After each lesson teachers assess children's knowledge and understanding through a range of questions that enable children to reflect and evaluate on their learning. Each pathway contains “I Can...” statements, which is used to check understanding. This gives children opportunities to evaluate and improve their work through teacher guidance. We Celebrating effort, progress and achievement in art through displays, exhibitions and enrichment activities, such as trips out.

Impact:

By the end of their time with us, we want pupils to have learned, improved and embedded a range of artistic skills. They should have an awareness of a broad range of artists and craftspeople, and be able to consider and discuss the artworks they come across. We want our pupils to be confident to explore, experiment and take risks, placing value on the process and journey that they take, not just on the finished product. Most importantly, we want children to have found and enjoyed a creative outlet – a means of self-expression and enjoyment. Openly promoting art and design as a possible further study or career choice.