Our aims are to fulfil the requirements of the National Curriculum for art and design, provide a broad and balanced curriculum, ensure the progressive development of knowledge and skills, enable children to observe and record from first-hand experience and from imagination. To develop children’s competence in controlling materials and tools, acquire knowledge and become proficient in various art and design techniques and processes, begin to develop an awareness of the visual and tactile elements including; colour, pattern and texture, line and tone, shape, form and space.

We aim to foster enjoyment and appreciation of the visual arts and develop a knowledge of significant artists, craftspeople and designers, increase critical awareness of the roles and purposes of art and design in different times and cultures, and analyse works using the language of art and design and develop a cross-curricular approach to the use of art and design in all subjects.

Art and design stimulates imagination and creativity; involving children in a range of visual, tactile and sensory experiences, which enable them to communicate what they see, think and feel through the use of the elements of colour, texture, form and pattern. Art and design promotes careful observation and an appreciation of the world around us. Children explore ideas and meanings through studying the work of artists and designers. Through learning about the roles and functions of art, they can explore the impact it has had on contemporary life and on different periods and cultures.

The Art and design curriculum at St Michael’s Primary School is based upon the 2014 Primary National Curriculum in England, which provides a broad framework and outlines the knowledge and skills and taught in each Key Stage. To support us delivering in our aims for Art and design we use the AccessArt curriculum as our core framework.

The aim of this curriculum is that by the time every child leaves primary school they can feel as if they have found an area of the visual arts that is relevant and engaging to them – that might be through drawing, or making, or designing, or talking about art. 

The new AccessArt Curriculum helps build knowledge and understanding in pupils (and teachers) as to some of the ways art is relevant to all our lives. By combining technical skills with contextual and conceptual understanding our curriculum helps ensure every pupil feels entitled to embrace their own creativity as something which is important to them, and something which is valued by society.