Witamy w kościele św. Bernadety
Learn to love, love to learn
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Our Vision for Art and Design
Art and Design is a subject where every child can succeed. We believe that art is a universal form of expression that enables all children to communicate ideas, emotions and experiences, regardless of background or ability. Through Art and Design, we want children to become confident artists who are willing to take creative risks, experiment with different media and reflect on their own development.
Our curriculum develops children's knowledge of artistic techniques, skills and processes, while encouraging them to think critically about the work of a diverse range of artists, designers and craftspeople. By exploring, evaluating and creating art, children learn to express themselves with confidence and resilience.
Through Art and Design, children learn to love creativity, self-expression and the rich diversity of the world around them. As they develop curiosity, independence and a sense of achievement, they also love to learn, embracing new challenges and opportunities to grow as artists and thinkers. We want every child to leave our school believing that they are creative, capable and able to make their unique mark on the world.
Art and Design Through a Catholic Lens
Teaching Art and Design through a Catholic lens encourages pupils to see creativity as a gift from God and a way of expressing Gospel values. Catholic Social Teaching is woven throughout the curriculum, helping children understand how art can promote dignity, compassion, stewardship and the common good. Children explore human dignity through portrait and collage work inspired by artists such as Deborah Roberts, celebrating individuality and the uniqueness of every person. Children are encouraged to care for God's creation, for example by creating sculptures or collages using recycled materials and artwork inspired by the natural world. Care for Creation is developed through artist studies such as Andy Goldsworthy, encouraging children to appreciate and respond creatively to the natural world. Through textile work inspired by Diedrick Brackens, pupils explore themes of culture, identity and belonging, fostering respect for others and an appreciation of diversity. Collaborative discussions, evaluations and gallery walks promote solidarity by encouraging children to listen to, value and learn from one another's ideas.
As subject leader, I have curated a curriculum that celebrates diverse artists, encourages reflection and develops spiritual awareness through creativity. In doing so, Art and Design becomes a space where children encounter beauty, truth and the gifts God has given them.
What Children Learn
Art and Design at St Bernadette’s is underpinned by a bespoke curriculum schema, informed by the Research Review Series: Art and Design, which carefully sequences knowledge, skills and vocabulary across the artistic disciplines of drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, textiles and collage. Within every unit, children develop theoretical knowledge (knowing about artists, techniques and artistic concepts), practical knowledge (applying skills and techniques through making and creating) and disciplinary knowledge (thinking, evaluating and working like an artist).
In EYFS, learning is rooted in the Early Years Statutory Framework, where children explore materials, develop creativity, refine ideas and begin to discuss artists and artwork. These foundations are built upon in Key Stage 1 through a mixed-media approach, where children are introduced to a variety of disciplines and develop core artistic skills. As pupils progress through the school, they deepen their understanding of artistic processes, refine techniques and become increasingly confident in evaluating and discussing artwork using subject-specific vocabulary.
Artists from a wide range of cultures, backgrounds and historical periods are studied throughout the curriculum, ensuring an inclusive curriculum where all children can see themselves represented and succeed as artists.
How Learning Builds
Knowledge, skills and vocabulary are carefully sequenced to become increasingly ambitious as children move through the school. Each lesson begins with a retrieval activity, including artist flashbacks and prior learning, enabling pupils to revisit key knowledge, vocabulary and techniques before building upon them. This regular retrieval strengthens long-term memory and helps children make meaningful connections across disciplines.
As pupils progress, they develop greater control, independence and critical understanding of artistic processes. For example, in Key Stage 1, children learn to create simple line drawings and explore basic mark-making techniques. In Lower Key Stage 2, they build on this knowledge by using tone and shading to create depth and form. By Upper Key Stage 2, pupils apply these skills to large-scale observational drawings and more advanced techniques such as perspective.
Drawing, painting, sculpture, textiles and collage are revisited throughout the curriculum, with increasingly complex skills, techniques and vocabulary introduced over time. This progression prepares children for the next stage of education as confident, skilled and reflective artists.
How We Teach Art and Design
Pupils experience a consistent structure in every Art and Design unit, enabling them to build knowledge and skills with confidence. Each unit begins with an artist introduction, where children analyse and discuss the work of a significant artist, designer or craftsperson using carefully selected vocabulary, widgets and sentence stems to support all learners. This is followed by idea generation, where pupils research, gather inspiration and record their thoughts in sketchbooks.
Teachers explicitly model new techniques using the I do, We do, You do approach, breaking down artistic processes into manageable steps. Pupils then move into the explore, develop and refine stage, where they practise and apply new skills through guided and independent activities. Throughout this process, discussion, questioning and feedback help children reflect on and improve their work.
Children then bring together their learning to create a final piece, demonstrating their developing mastery of the discipline. Every unit concludes with evaluation, where pupils reflect on their artistic choices, evaluate outcomes and discuss how their work could be further refined, developing their confidence as thoughtful and reflective artists.
Language Vocabulary and Oracy
Art and Design places a strong emphasis on developing subject-specific vocabulary and confident classroom discussion. Every lesson begins with the explicit teaching of key vocabulary linked to the unit, artist or discipline being studied. Vocabulary is supported through dual coding, including widgets, visual prompts and sentence stems, ensuring all pupils, including those with speech, language and communication needs, can access and use new language confidently.
Teachers model vocabulary and discussions through My Turn, Your Turn and structured talk opportunities, allowing children to rehearse language before applying it independently. Throughout artist introduction lessons and subsequent practical sessions, pupils regularly discuss ideas, techniques and artistic choices with partners, groups and their teacher.
Following practical work, children participate in gallery walks where they analyse, evaluate and respond to their peers' artwork. Sentence stems support pupils in giving constructive feedback using full sentences and appropriate artistic vocabulary. These regular opportunities to listen, discuss, explain and justify help pupils develop confidence as articulate, reflective artists.
Inclusion
Our Art & Design curriculum has been carefully designed to help every child succeed as an artist. We focus on the most important knowledge, skills and vocabulary, ensuring learning builds step-by-step from EYFS to Year 6. Through studying a diverse range of artists and exploring drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, textiles, collage and digital art, children develop creativity, confidence and critical thinking. Lessons include clear teacher modelling, purposeful discussion, retrieval of previous learning and opportunities to refine and improve artwork. Visual supports, sentence stems and practical approaches ensure all pupils, including those with SEND, can access the same ambitious curriculum. By helping children remember more, talk confidently about art and apply their skills independently, we enable every child to grow as a creative, reflective and successful artist.
How We Know Children Are Learning
Teachers assess understanding continuously throughout Art and Design lessons through questioning, observation, discussion and practical application. As pupils work, teachers check that artistic techniques, vocabulary and knowledge are being applied correctly, identifying misconceptions and gaps in understanding. Where necessary, teaching is adapted in the moment through additional modelling, guided practice, reteaching or teacher demonstrations. Constructive verbal feedback helps pupils reflect on and refine their work throughout the creative process.
Assessment is also informed by sketchbooks, final outcomes, pupil discussions, self-evaluation and peer critique. Gallery walks and class discussions provide opportunities for pupils to explain their artistic choices and demonstrate their understanding using subject-specific vocabulary. Retrieval activities, artist flashbacks and vocabulary reviews at the start of subsequent lessons help teachers identify what has been remembered and what requires further consolidation. This ongoing formative assessment ensures future lessons respond to pupils' needs whilst enabling all children to access the same ambitious Art and Design curriculum with increasing confidence, independence and skill.
Enrichment and Wider Opportunities
Our Learning in Action
Supporting Learning at Home
Parents can help develop creativity by encouraging children to draw, paint, build, craft and experiment with different materials at home. Visiting galleries, museums, parks and local landmarks can provide inspiration and opportunities to talk about colours, patterns, textures and artists. Children can develop their artistic skills by regularly practising drawing, colouring, cutting, painting and making things, while being encouraged to explain their ideas and talk about their creations. Most importantly, celebrate effort, imagination and creativity rather than focusing on perfection, helping children to build confidence and a lifelong love of Art and Design.
Curriculum Documents and Useful Links
