Art
Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist when we grow up.
Pablo Picasso
Our Vision for Art and Design at Woolpit Primary Academy
At Woolpit Primary Academy, through art, craft and design we want to engage, inspire and challenge children by introducing them to a broad range of techniques, materials and artists, craftspeople and designers.
We want to equip them with the knowledge and skills to experiment, explore, take risks, invent and create. We believe that developing art and design skills will enable children to be authentic and explore their own identity as well as encouraging them to develop a respect and connectivity with others in their own community and further afield.
We also believe that a focus on the arts will support mental health and emotional regulation. As stated in the study by the Cultural Learning Alliance, “The arts give children a creative outlet to explore and express their emotions, affording them ways of coping with life’s challenges. They can help in reducing stress, building resilience, raising self-esteem and developing social skills.”
National Curriculum Art and Design Aims
The national curriculum for art and design aims to ensure that all pupils:
- produce creative work, exploring their ideas and recording their experiences
- become proficient in drawing, painting, sculpture and other art, craft and design techniques
- evaluate and analyse creative works using the language of art, craft and design
- know about great artists, craft makers and designers, and understand the historical and cultural development of their art forms.
Teaching Art and Design at Woolpit Primary Academy
We use Access Art to support our art teaching across the school. The children learn through a variety of opportunities that enable them to explore, create and develop their skills. Throughout their learning, pupils encounter diverse artists and are encouraged to use their work to inspire their own creations. Sketchbooks are an important part of every child’s art journey; they follow them throughout their school life so they can see how their creativity has developed over their time at Woolpit Primary Academy.
Developing Cultural Capital
Each half term, all children across the school will have the opportunity to look at, reflect upon and respond to an artist. Over their time at our school they will look at 42 different artists. These artists will be from a range of time periods and cultures, as well as artists local to East Anglia.
I found I could say things with colour and shapes that I couldn’t say any other way – things I had no words for.
Georgia O’Keeffe