Art

What is Art?

At Henham and Ugley we consider art to be a vital part of a balanced education and are dedicated to nurturing and enhancing every artistic skill.

Curriculum Intent- Art

Our art and design curriculum's overall objectives are to inspire our children to have the courage to experiment, explore, and take chances, paying equal merit to the process and journey they go through as well as the final product and, most importantly, to help the children find and fall in love with a creative outlet that allows them to express themselves and have fun.

Children at Henham are given every chance to develop their ability, nurture their talent and interests, express their ideas and thoughts about the world, working both independently and collaboratively. They explore ideas and meaning through the work of artists and designers, becoming familiar with a variety of local, national, traditional, and contemporary artists and craftspeople - able to analyse and discuss the artwork they encounter. Additionally, as they learn about the history, roles, and functions of art, they explore the impact that it has on contemporary life and that of different times and cultures.

Progression of Skills

At Henham and Ugley Primary and Nursery School, our learning is progressive, which we demonstrate through the progression map below.

Please see the uploaded Progression Map below.

Long Term Planning

Please see the uploaded Long Term Planning below.

Assessment in Art

At Henham and Ugley, we understand that progress in art is often nonlinear. Growth and understanding can occur in sudden leaps, interspersed with periods of little change.

We are careful in how we collect evidence in sketchbooks, valuing the process as much as the outcome. We recognize that the intention behind the work is as important as the work itself. Since there can be differences between what we see and what the student intended, discussing the work at all stages is essential. These discussions can occur between peers, between student and teacher, and in small groups, fostering a culture of learning conversations and dialogue in our lessons. We teach children to ask questions of themselves and their work, ensuring they understand that in art, we don’t grade or judge; we reflect.

Assessment should not stifle creativity but promote it, inspiring students to continue making art. It should help pupils understand that everyone is striving to improve, even so-called experts. We don’t mark children’s art, keeping their sketchbooks as a safe space to explore and create.

We keep success measures open and encouraging, focusing on being generous, supportive, and celebratory rather than rigid and didactic. We leave room to celebrate the unexpected. We might be teaching one thing, but in art, a student may discover something else. Creative journeys often take unexpected turns, and we celebrate them!