We are Artists

Intent

At Asquith, we believe art is a vital part of a child’s education, nurturing creativity, curiosity, and self-expression. We provide exciting opportunities for all pupils to explore, experiment and take creative risks, ensuring they experience opportunities to celebrate individuality and imagination.

Our art curriculum aims to:

Deliver the National Curriculum by ensuring that all pupils:

• Develop creativity, imagination and enjoyment of artistic expression.

• Are taught to produce creative work, exploring their ideas and recording their experiences using a wide range of materials and techniques.

Promote Wonderful Words

• By learning and applying ambitious vocabulary to describe techniques, materials, processes and the work of artists.

• By teaching children to talk thoughtfully about their own artwork and that of others, developing confidence in explanation, evaluation and artistic discussion.

Provide Opportunities

• By encouraging all pupils to explore a wide range of media, techniques and cultural influences, ensuring inclusivity and creativity for every child.

• Through practical experiences, exhibitions and collaborative projects, pupils develop resilience, independence and pride in their achievements.

Encourage Pupils to Dream Big

• By encouraging experimentation, individuality and ambition.

• Children are inspired by artists from diverse backgrounds and are supported to see themselves as artists, designers and creative thinkers, building confidence to take risks, pursue aspirations and imagine their own future possibilities.

Our Art curriculum is underpinned by our six school values.

• Respect is shown as children appreciate the artistic traditions, cultures and viewpoints of others.

• Responsibility is fostered as pupils take care of tools, materials and their learning environment.

• Understanding grows as children learn from different artists, styles and time periods, recognising that art tells many stories.

• Determination is encouraged as pupils refine skills, practise techniques and persevere with challenging creative processes.

• Honesty is developed through thoughtful self-evaluation and constructive peer feedback.

• Cooperation thrives during collaborative projects where children share ideas, listen to others and work towards a shared artistic outcome.

Through a broad and balanced programme, pupils learn to use a variety of media and techniques, building practical skills while developing their imagination. They are introduced to the work of diverse artists, craftspeople, and designers from different times and cultures, helping them appreciate the role of art in shaping history, society, and the world around them.

We aim for our pupils to:

• Express themselves creatively and with confidence.

• Develop resilience by experimenting, taking risks, and learning from mistakes.

• Build a strong foundation of skills in drawing, painting, sculpture, and printing.

• Value and respect the ideas and creations of others as well as their own.

• See themselves as artists, able to communicate their thoughts and feelings visually.

By the time they leave primary school, our pupils will have experienced the joy of making and creating, developed critical thinking skills through discussion and reflection, and gained an appreciation of art as both a personal outlet and a cultural force.

Implementation

At Asquith, art is taught as a discrete subject, while also making meaningful links across the wider curriculum. We ensure a carefully sequenced progression of knowledge and skills, so that pupils revisit and build upon prior learning as they move through the school.

Our implementation focuses on:

• Progression of skills: Pupils develop core skills in drawing, painting, sculpture and printmaking. Each key stage revisits these areas with increasing complexity.

• Exploration and experimentation: Children are encouraged to try different techniques, materials, and tools, fostering resilience and creativity through trial and error.

• Exposure to artists and cultures: Pupils study the work of a diverse range of artists, designers, and craftspeople, learning how art reflects and shapes the world around us.

• Vocabulary and discussion: We embed subject-specific language into lessons, encouraging pupils to reflect on their own work and that of others, developing critical thinking and oracy skills.

• Sketchbooks: Every child uses a sketchbook to record ideas, practise techniques, and reflect on their artistic journey, supporting both creativity and progression.

• Celebration of art: Children’s work is displayed throughout the school, fostering pride and recognising achievement.

Teachers use a combination of modelling, guided practice, and independent exploration, supported by high-quality resources, to ensure all pupils can access the curriculum and succeed as artists.

Impact

The impact of our art curriculum is that pupils at Asquith develop into confident, creative, and reflective young artists. They leave primary school with the skills, knowledge, and appreciation needed to continue their artistic journey in secondary education and beyond.

Our pupils:

• Show progression in technical skills across a range of media, as evidenced in their sketchbooks and final pieces.

• Demonstrate creativity, imagination, and resilience, able to take risks and learn from mistakes.

• Use appropriate artistic vocabulary to evaluate and discuss their own work and that of others.

• Express themselves with confidence, seeing art as a meaningful form of communication.

• Appreciate the value of art in different cultures, times, and communities, making connections to their own lives.

We measure the impact of our curriculum through pupil voice, outcomes in sketchbooks and displays, and teachers’ ongoing assessments of skill development. Most importantly, we see it in the pride pupils take in their work, their willingness to experiment, and their growing identity as artists.