Art and Design at Christopher Hatton School

Intent

Our aim is for all pupils to be informed, articulate and empowered:

In art, this means children are engaged and inspired by a well-designed, sequential curriculum. A wide range of enrichment opportunities and the opportunity to work with specialist teachers complements teaching. Art and design are highly valued as part of our rich curriculum and supports children to acquire the knowledge and cultural capital they need to succeed in life.

Informed

Children learn about great artists and designers from different historical periods and cultures.
Children develop the knowledge and skills to produce creative work across a range of media and genres.

Articulate

Through the teaching of subject specific technical vocabulary and opportunities to discuss works of art children develop their ability to think critically, evaluate and develop their understanding of art and design.

Empowered

Works and artists covered reflect the diversity of our community enabling pupils to see themselves within the art curriculum. This supports their belief that they too can be great artists or designers.
The focus on having a growth mind-set is essential in the teaching of art empowering children with the confidence to have a go, to learn from mistakes and to keep trying and improving.
Children explore the purposes of art within a context as well as its meaning within their own life and future e.g. exploring art as activism or the role of art during WW2.
Visits to galleries and our termly art history sessions empower children to understand that the amazing resources we have in London belong to, and are open to them.
An appreciation of the arts is essential to fully engaging in a rich cultural life.
All children including those who have SEND or are disadvantaged are supported to fully access the art curriculum. This may include additional adult support, adapted resources or the use of visual supports. Structured sentence stems and taught vocabulary scaffold children in discussion.

Implementation

The art scheme of work, developed by staff across all key stages, lays out the sequential steps to be taught so that new knowledge and skills build on what has been taught before. Pupils work towards clearly defined high quality outcomes.
Key artists and genres to be taught are outlined to ensure children learn about, and be inspired by, a range of periods and artistic approaches
Art is taught in units, with lessons sometimes blocked to allow immersion in the process.
Each strand of art (drawing, painting, print, sculpture, design and craft) is covered and revisited so that pupils retain and build upon prior learning.
Children have focussed art appreciation lessons based on the theme, genre or media they are studying. This builds knowledge and acts as inspiration for their own creativity.
A professional artist works with classes from Y2 – Y6 for at least one unit per year to extend the mastery of art and design techniques.
Children can further their interest and experience by attending one of our arts based clubs – this includes pottery, building explorers and art club.
The art lead supports teachers and monitors standards by reviewing planning of units, talking to children with their artworks and observing lessons.

Impact

Children at Christopher Hatton can express informed opinions, make connections and have a developing knowledge of artists from different periods.
Children build the skills needed to produce their own works across a range of styles and media.
Standards in art are high as demonstrated in the quality works produced. We frequently have works accepted for the prestigious Young Artists Summer Show at the Royal Academy.

Click here to see Art scheme of work

Enjoy our gallery.