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.

National curriculum in England, 2013

At Horspath Primary School we believe that Art and Design is an essential aspect of learning.   This is because art stimulates creativity enabling children to develop their imaginations and to make connections through their inventive minds.  We believe that Art gives our pupils the skills, concepts and knowledge necessary for them to express responses to ideas and experiences.  It fires their imagination.

Art also encourages expression and visual thinking, which in turn helps children to learn other subjects.  Children can develop their observational skills through art and design, which helps them become better observers of the world around them.

At Horspath, the youngest children are given access to mark making resources where they can explore colour and line and learn how they can be changed. They are encouraged to express feelings through their art and mark making and capture experiences and responses with a wide range of media. Children begin by creating simple representations of events, people and objects, choosing particular colours and textures for their purpose.

As the children progress through school, art experiences develop so the children can make decisions about their approach to different challenges.  Their drawing skills in particular are used to support learning across the curriculum, for example, as illustrations and to record their knowledge and understanding in diagrams.