At St. Mary’s CE Primary School, we are committed to providing all children with learning opportunities to engage in art and design and spark their creativity. Our art curriculum introduces the children to a wide range of talented artists from local artists such as Philip Meadows and Mackenzie Thorpe, or inspirational British Artists such as Banksy, to acclaimed international artists from around the world. Through this, they learn and develop a technical knowledge of styles and how art reflects and shapes history and contributes to the culture, creativity and wealth of our and other nations. Art will also provide opportunities for reflection and, with increasing sensitivity, pupils will acquire the ability to make informed, critical responses to their own work and that of others.
St. Mary’s’ curriculum allows children to explore, develop and express their own artistic knowledge and skills and see themselves as an artist. Progression of skills and knowledge is built upon year on year. For example, starting in Early Years, children start their artistic exploration by using line, patterns and colour mixing. As they move into KS1, children develop their use of shade, tone and texture as well as developing their colour mixing skills using the colour wheel. When children move into KS2, they use their learning to develop an awareness of light, shadow and perspective, leading into UKS2 where children use these techniques to create reflections and movement in their art.
At St. Mary’s, we want every child to be an artist and believe in their own ability. In the words of Vincent Van Gough, “If you hear a voice within you say ‘you cannot paint,’ then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced.”
