Red Oak Primary School, Lowestoft

WHY THIS? Art is a foundation subject of the National Curriculum, which gives our children amazing opportunities to express some of the highest forms of human creativity. Through art, children will be gain the knowledge and skills to investigate, experiment and create their own pieces of work, expressing their own personalities and experiences. Art takes an important role in history and gives our children the opportunity to reflect on this and the way in which it has, and continues to shape our own culture. The importance of art is evident throughout our school as we plan and deliver lessons, focussing on important key skills and aspects of art. We believe teaching and learning is most effective when the environment celebrates innovation and is inclusive of each other’s values, attitudes and feelings. Our aim is for our children to become confident artists, comfortable in expressing their thoughts and emotions through the medium of art.

Intent: Art is a key part of our broad and balanced curriculum at Red Oak Primary School. As a school we believe each child has the right to knowledge and the skills in order to access art at the highest level before the end of Key Stage 2. Children will have the confidence to be expressive and demonstrate creativity at the very best of their ability. This includes the skills to take part in many different mediums of art and developing a deep understanding of art’s role in our own culture and history. These goals are planned for in a well-structured way through our long term plan, influenced by the Suffolk Art Scheme, building on the skills taught throughout each key stage. With set targets within each year group, children who require further extension with their artistic learning are identified and challenged to build upon their skills and likewise, those that do not achieve these expectations are supported to achieve through carefully breaking down and scaffolding the learning. Skills of observation and evaluation are taught so that the children at Red Oak Primary school are able to master their techniques through self-improvement and motivation. We aim for all children at Red Oak Primary School to develop a life-long love of art.

Implementation: Discrete art lessons are carried out weekly, focussing on a particular artistic skill/technique. Art skills are taught in this way to provide children the opportunity to participate in the artistic journey from the very beginning of an idea, building upon the knowledge over time to the creation of their final piece. Children are given the time to explore their ideas and record their experiences in the moment. This could be through discussion, sketchbook work, larger scale and collaborative pieces. The content of art lessons are influenced by the Suffolk Art Scheme; where specific artistic skills are taught discretely, encompassing the roles of various artists through history and their influence on our own culture and those of the wider world. These plans are carefully adapted for the needs of the pupils each year. Art is also undertaken through cross curricular lessons, where further techniques are used and opportunities to further develop and apply artistic skills, taught in discrete art sessions. Artistic appreciation is modelled by teaching staff and provides further opportunities to develop oracy, as children discuss not only their own and peers’ artwork, but that of other cultures. This links with our whole school aim to develop all pupils’ oracy skills.

Impact: Within Red Oak Primary school, progress of children is measured using both formative and summative assessments. During lessons, staff use formative assessment to support and advise pupils in the moment. This allows teaching staff to assess whether pupils need further support or extending through more challenge. This also provides opportunity for pupils to follow advice, make improvements or develop their ideas at that exact moment in time. Summative assessment is used to assess each pupil, using assessment criteria developed in line with the National Curriculum and Target tracker. This data is evaluated on a regular basis to evaluate any strengths or gaps in attainment. This informs future planning, and support is put in place for those that are not achieving in line with peers and increased challenge to further extend those that are exceeding expectations. Further information is gathered through pupil voice such as questionnaires and discussion. End of year assessments are carried out, identifying the level in which pupils are working. Planning is reflected upon throughout the year and is used to help guide planning for the consecutive year.

How we are currently continuing to improve Art at Red Oak

To offer CPD opportunities to staff to further develop knowledge and skills.
To develop oracy skills of all children through discussion of artists, own pieces of art and those of their peers; offering opinions and views.
To improve art resources throughout all year groups.
To introduce art themed story books, developing a love of reading and understanding around the subject of art.
To offer children opportunities to work with experts and raise children’s awareness of career opportunities and aspirations in these fields.

On the table below you can see a yearly overview of the skills that are taught across the year, within each year group. As set out by the National Curriculum, each year group covers all of these six important skills; 3D sculpture, collage, drawing, painting, printing and textiles. These skills are re-visited and built upon each year to ensure children can deepen their understanding and mastery through practise and application.

To view the table please click on the PDF:

Yearly Art Skills Overview 2 year program.pdf

The children at Red Oak love to express themselves through creativity. During our weekly after school art club, our children have been learning lots of new techniques and taken inspiration from a range of wonderful artists. We have used nature as part of our art, taking inspiration from Andy Goldsworthy. We have explored the abstract work of Paul Klee and created our own interpretations using shape, colour and composition. Children have used science in their art, exploring the effects of dye and foam, creating some beautiful prints. We have also investigated how we can use our own stencils, applying masking tape to create negative space. Here are some fantastic examples of our children’s creativity.