Intent

At Manor Drive Primary Academy, we are committed to fostering a love for art by equipping pupils with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to experiment, innovate, and create their own artistic expressions.

Our aim is to enable pupils to: 

• Understand how art connects us to our past, reflects our present, and empowers us to shape the future. 

• Produce imaginative and meaningful work by exploring their ideas and documenting their experiences. 

• Develop proficiency in a variety of techniques, including drawing, painting, sculpture, and other forms of art, craft, and design. 

• Critically evaluate and analyse creative works using the language of art and design. 

• Learn about influential artists, designers, and craft makers, appreciating the historical and cultural contexts of their contributions. 

Implementation

Our Art curriculum is rooted in the belief that art is more than just technical ability; it is a means of nurturing creative thinking and fostering personal growth. Key features of our implementation include: 

• Holistic Approach: Art is used not only as a subject to learn but also as a tool for broader learning, emphasising creativity, reflection, and problem-solving. 

• Supportive Resources: Staff are supported by AccessArt, which ensures high-quality teaching with carefully sequenced lessons that deepen understanding of key concepts and maximise pupil potential. 

• Skill Development: Pupils build a broad range of artistic skills with clear progression. Our curriculum balances factual knowledge with experiential learning, fostering self-awareness and resilience. 

• Curriculum Structure: Art is taught in half-term blocks, alternating with Design and Technology. Each unit focusses on specific skills and explores the work of different artists, ensuring that pupils engage with a variety of techniques and approaches across all key stages. 

• Artist Studies: At the start of each unit, pupils study an artist and create a double-page spread in their sketchbooks, incorporating examples, colour schemes, and key facts to deepen their understanding. 

• Skill Application: Pupils develop and refine their techniques in sketchbooks, experimenting, practising formal methods, and applying their knowledge before producing a final piece of art. 

• Showcasing Work: Final pieces are displayed in year group ‘art galleries’ around the school and in our ‘Creation Station’, where the majority of Art lessons are taught, celebrating achievements and inspiring the school community. 

• Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS): In Early Years, art is integrated into the curriculum through Expressive Arts and Design, providing varied opportunities for pupils to explore media and materials, supporting their imagination and creativity. 

Assessment 

There are no national standards in Primary Art and Design, so we advocate ongoing assessment based upon lots of conversation, to discover intention and understanding, as well as looking at outcomes of the journey and end result. Remember creativity can be fragile – so tread with care. We use lots of suggested “Can I…” statements which staff use to check pupils' understanding. 

Impact

Our Art curriculum at Manor Drive Primary Academy opens up the world of art, offering pupils a rich variety of experiences and opportunities. Evidence of our impact includes pupils who: 

• Feel inspired by the work of others and develop a lifelong passion for art. 

• Build their capacity for imaginative and original thought through experimentation and exploration. 

• Confidently articulate and communicate their ideas, emotions, and reflections about their own work and that of others. 

• Gain hands-on experience with diverse skills, techniques, and media. 

• Understand and appreciate the historical and cultural significance of artists, designers, and architects. 

• Achieve well in Art which is reflected through a consistent learning journey  and clear progress. 

• Effectively  evaluate their own learning and from this see progression throughout their sketchbooks. 

• Experienced many history-based trips, themed days and visitors which help to embed their learning and offer lasting memories. 

• Developed  resilience,  competence and confidence  in their own ability in a range of Art skills 

Here you can find our curriculum overview for art: