Art & Design Curriculum Intent

Art and Design teaching in the Ashington Learning Partnership reflects our guiding

principles of partnership and opportunity to provide enriching experiences for all pupils.

Art, craft and design embody some of the highest forms of human creativity. The art and

design education that we deliver, engages, inspires and challenges pupils, equipping them

with the knowledge and skills to experiment, invent and create their own works of art, craft

and design. As pupils progress through the Ashighton Learning Partnership, they become

able to think critically and develop a more rigorous understanding of art and design. They

gain knowledge of how art and design both reflect and shape our history, and contribute to

the culture, creativity and wealth of our nation.

The Art and Design curriculum reflects the typical needs of our pupils to broaden and

deepen their vocabulary, develop greater oracy skills and help them to self-regulate their

behaviours and emotions through the exploration of famous artists and their influences

allowing children to gain an understanding of their own mental health. In EYFS the

curriculum ensures the EYFS learning and development requirements are met by

responding to children’s needs and interests whilst stimulating new interests and

addressing barriers to learning. Children have the opportunity to explore colour, thoughts

and feelings, media and materials and the exploration of the differences in their own and

others work this is done using the knowledge, skills and understanding developed through

the designers and cultural explorers passports.

In Key Stage 1 the art and design curriculum focuses upon providing opportunities for

enriching pupils’ experience of art and design. Children explore colour and mood, tone, a

range of media, pattern and texture and personal thoughts and feelings by exploring a

range of artists through the cultural explorers knowledge, skills and understanding

passport.

In Key Stage 2 it offers a challenging, broad, balanced and rich approach to art and design

with opportunities for children to apply their knowledge and skills and reflect on why this is

important in their own lives through the use of enquiry questions. Children build upon their

prior learning by exploring a range of styles, artists, sculpture, light, opportunities for STEM

and personal mental health.

To achieve this, the art and design curriculum provides a structured co-ordinated pathway

to maximise learning opportunities and ensure our aims are implemented. It includes the

knowledge, skills and understanding to be gained at each stage and enables