Impact 

At Burleyfields Primary School, children develop the confidence, knowledge and practical skills to express themselves through art. Their sketchbooks, finished pieces and displays celebrate both their creative achievements and the process of exploring, experimenting and refining ideas. 

Through our art curriculum, children: 

• Use a growing range of techniques, tools and materials with confidence and increasing control. 

• Apply their understanding of line, tone, colour, shape, pattern, texture and form to their own work. 

• Draw inspiration from artists, craftspeople and designers, using what they discover to develop their own ideas. 

• Discuss and evaluate artwork using appropriate vocabulary, explaining their choices and reflecting on how their work could develop. 

• Appreciate different artistic traditions and recognise how art reflects culture, identity and experience. 

• Show independence, perseverance and pride in their creative work. 

By the end of Year 6, children have a foundation of artistic knowledge and skills, an appreciation of art in the wider world and the confidence to continue developing as artists. 

Intent 

At Burleyfields Primary School, we aim to inspire a lasting enjoyment of art and design. Our curriculum encourages children to explore their imagination, communicate ideas and discover the possibilities of different materials and techniques. 

We want every child to see themselves as an artist. Through an inclusive, knowledge-rich curriculum, children develop the skills to experiment, take creative risks and make thoughtful decisions about their work. 

Our curriculum enables children to: 

• Develop skills in drawing, painting, sculpture, collage and printing. 

• Understand and use the key elements of line, tone, colour, shape, pattern, texture and form. 

• Explore the work of traditional, modern and contemporary artists, craftspeople and designers from a range of backgrounds. 

• Understand how art reflects and influences different cultures, communities and historical periods. 

• Develop the vocabulary and confidence to discuss, interpret and evaluate their own work and that of others. 

• Value the creative process, recognising that experimentation, reflection and revision help ideas develop. 

Implementation 

Our art and design curriculum is carefully sequenced from the Early Years to Year 6. Knowledge, techniques and vocabulary are revisited and developed so that children build on previous learning and work with increasing independence. 

Art is taught weekly within a half-termly cycle. Each unit provides opportunities for children to: 

• Explore an artist, craftsperson, designer or artistic tradition. 

• Look closely at artwork and discuss its features, materials, techniques and possible meanings. 

• Practise specific skills through focused activities and experimentation. 

• Develop ideas and make choices about materials, techniques and composition. 

• Create an outcome that draws on their learning while allowing for individual expression. 

• Reflect on their work, explain their decisions and identify possible improvements. 

Teachers explicitly model techniques and the safe use of tools, giving children time to practise before applying skills independently. High-quality resources allow children to explore a range of media and understand their different properties. 

Sketchbooks capture children’s creative journeys, providing space to record observations, collect inspiration, test techniques and develop ideas. They are valued as places for exploration, where mistakes and changes of direction are part of learning. 

Children regularly discuss their work and offer constructive feedback. Teachers use observation, discussion, sketchbooks and finished pieces to assess understanding and identify next steps. 

Children encounter a broad range of artists, craftspeople and designers across different periods and cultures. They consider how creative work connects to people, places and experiences, developing an appreciation of both their own heritage and that of others. 

Subject-specific vocabulary is introduced explicitly and revisited throughout practical work and discussion, helping children describe what they see and explain their artistic choices. 

In the Early Years, art is woven into daily provision. Accessible materials and open-ended activities encourage children to explore colour, line, texture and form through play. 

Adults model techniques, introduce vocabulary and encourage children to talk about their creations. Children learn about a different artist each term, using these encounters to inspire curiosity and their own creative responses. 

Displays celebrate a range of children’s work and make the creative process visible. Opportunities within school and the wider community enrich learning, broaden children’s cultural experiences and help them recognise the place of art in everyday life. 

Inclusion 

Teaching is adapted so that all children, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), can participate meaningfully and develop as artists. Modelling, appropriate tools, practical support and repeated practice help children build confidence, while open-ended tasks provide opportunities for challenge.