Art
At Eaton Bray Academy we recognise the importance of providing a broad and balanced curriculum, which is accessible by all children. Art and Design is a vital part of children’s education and has a significant and valuable role in the taught curriculum. We believe that our Art and Design curriculum allows children to:
- Express their individual interests, thoughts and ideas through a variety of different media.
- Become confident and proficient in a variety of techniques including drawing, painting, sculpting, as well as other selected craft skills, including collage, printing, weaving and patterns.
- Develop an understanding of the visual elements of art and design (line, tone, texture, colour, pattern, shape, 3D form).
- Use their sketchbooks to good effect.
- Develop self-expression and creativity, providing them with key skills for later life.
- Develop their artistic knowledge and the skills to experiment, invent and create their own works of art.
- Develop their understanding of their own and others’ cultural heritages through studying a range of male and female artists from a diverse range of backgrounds.
- Develop an awareness of how art and design has reflected and shaped our history and has contributed to the culture, creativity and wealth of our nation.
- Develop their understanding of the visual language of art with effective teaching and considered sequences of lessons and experiences.
- Reach their full creative potential.
- Critically analyse their own work and that of others using appropriate vocabulary.
Through art we encourage children to express themselves creatively, and provide them with the skills, concepts and knowledge necessary for them to express their responses to ideas and experiences in a visual or tactile form. It fires their imagination and is a fundamental means of personal expression. Children have the opportunity to develop confidence, particularly those children who may struggle in other, seemingly more academic, subjects. Much of the art-work created is displayed in and around the school, providing pupils with a real purpose for the work they create, and showcasing the skills and progress they have made.
The Art and Design curriculum at Eaton Bray Academy is grounded in the school’s values and beliefs and enables pupils to develop their creativity and self-expression as well as allowing them to build confidence and resilience. We ensure that art lessons at EBA are inclusive and are carried out in a safe environment, in which the children are able to take risks and are provided with the opportunity to reach their potential, as high expectations are set. Lessons offer the chance for children to develop their emotional expression through art to further enhance their personal, social and emotional development. Our values are taught throughout our Art curriculum as we encourage the children to be kind, honest, responsible, appreciative, resilient and courageous in everything that they do.
As they go through the school, pupils will experience a sequenced programme of learning so that they develop an understanding and knowledge of key artistic skills. Children will develop their interest and curiosity about art and design through carefully planned lessons offering skills progression, knowledge progression and offering children the opportunity to ask questions and demonstrate their skills in a variety of ways.
As a consequence of experiencing a rich, deep and varied art curriculum our children will develop a positive attitude toward art. They will build in confidence and will develop artistic skills, knowledge and understanding allowing them to produce creative and imaginative pieces of work.
Safeguarding in Art and Design statement
Teaching safeguarding is a core aspect of Art and Design at EBA, where the focus is on pupils developing their artistic skills and techniques, enjoyment of art, and knowledge of safety whilst doing so. This gives pupils a sense of ownership of their learning and work. We also recognise the role Art and Design plays in pupils’ mental health. Artistic expression is used throughout the school as a method to help pupils relax, express their feelings and anxieties and as a venue for them to talk to their peers and staff openly. To support this, pupils are taught that Art and Design lessons are a place for acceptance, whether that be of each other’s, or artists work, as well as pieces of art from other cultures. Complementing this, our school’s key values are also modelled and taught throughout our Art and Design lessons. Through our Art and Design curriculum, we ensure that pupils are confident, proud and ambitious artists and designers, who make responsible choices, keep themselves and their peers safe and show respect to all other artists, whether they are their peers, historical figures, or people from other cultures.
All artists and visitors within school and trips out (galleries etc.) will undergo the agreed whole school policies to ensure that all safeguarding regulations are met. Trips will be recorded to ensure the correct procedures have been followed. Visitors will be required to have the correct DBS requirements and will be monitored by staff throughout the visit. All curriculum points and contents of the trip/ visit will be agreed upon before the sessions to ensure the content is appropriate for the age of the children.
Before each Art and Design lesson, we teach and model how to use equipment and resources safely and with respect. It is key that pupils understand how to use equipment, resources and our facilities respectfully, so that the wider school community can also use them. Pupil’s learning starts in EYFS, where children are taught how to recognise their own and others’ art, handle equipment safely and share resources with their peers. In KS1 and KS2, teaching staff model the safe use of equipment and resources, so as pupils learn new technical skills, their safety in which they use them also increases.