Think like artists and designers

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Our Art and design scheme of work aims to nurture pupils’ creativity, imagination and visual literacy, encouraging them to think like artists and designers. The intention is for pupils to develop the confidence to experiment, express ideas and communicate meaning through visual and tactile media.

The scheme promotes an appreciation of art as a powerful form of human expression, helping pupils to understand its role across different cultures, time periods and creative industries. It encourages children to value originality, take creative risks and reflect critically on their own work and that of others.

The curriculum is designed to be both accessible and ambitious for mixed age classes, ensuring all learners’ full participation and potential achievement.

The Strands

Our Art and design curriculum is structured around five strands that run through each unit:

These strands ensure a balanced coverage of the practical, theoretical and disciplinary knowledge pupils need to progress in Art and design, while supporting the development of both creative confidence and critical thinking.

Generating ideas

Producing creative work and exploring ideas.

Using sketchbooks

Recording experiences and becoming proficient in drawing.

Making skills

Becoming proficient in drawing, painting, sculpture and other art, craft and design techniques.

Knowledge of artists

Learning about great artists, craft makers and designers and understanding the historical and cultural development of their art forms.

Evaluating and analysing

Evaluating and analysing creative works using the language of art, craft and design.

Personal Development in Art and Design

SMSC

The scheme supports SMSC by encouraging children to:

  • Explore different perspectives.
  • Reflect on ethical issues.
  • Collaborate with others.
  • Appreciate cultural diversity through subject-specific content.

British values

Lessons promote British values (democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance) by incorporating activities that encourage debate, respect for differing opinions and an understanding of societal structures.

Cultural capital

Our Primary’s Art and design curriculum broadens children’s experiences by introducing them to a diverse range of artists, artistic traditions and cultural contexts. It ensures pupils develop the knowledge, skills and visual literacy needed to engage meaningfully with the creative world around them.

Spiral Curriculum

Our Art and Design scheme incorporates a spiral curriculum model, ensuring that pupils revisit and develop their understanding of key themes and concepts as they progress. This approach allows them to make meaningful connections, reinforce their learning and achieve mastery over time.

  • Revisiting key concepts – pupils encounter the same ideas multiple times throughout their education, with each revisit adding more complexity.
  • Progressive depth – concepts are not just repeated but expanded upon, helping pupils to make connections and develop a richer understanding over time.
  • Knowledge retention – regular exposure to key ideas strengthens memory and prevents knowledge from being forgotten.
  • Skill development – pupils refine and apply their skills in different contexts, improving their ability to think critically and solve problems.
  • Adaptive learning – by building on prior knowledge, the curriculum meets pupils at their current level and supports all learners, including those who need extra reinforcement and those who are ready for greater challenges.

 Assessment

Formative

Our science lessons include ongoing assessment opportunities, such as questioning, retrieval practice and interactive activities.

These enable teachers to assess understanding in real time and adapt their teaching accordingly.

Summative

Each unit provides an Assessment quiz and Knowledge catcher, which allow teachers to measure pupils’ understanding at key points.

These tools help gauge how well pupils have retained key knowledge and skills over time.

Please find useful links below

Art Long Term Plan
Art Long Term Plan
Art Progression of skills & knowledge
Art Progression of skills & knowledge

Should you have any questions about the curriculum, please contact Mr Joseph via info@thelight-school.org

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