Art: Key Stage 5

Curriculum Intent

As a department, we believe that art is a vital and integral part of the students' education at Spalding Grammar School. It provides them with opportunities to develop a range of ways in which they can share and express their individual creativity, whilst learning about and making links with  a wide spectrum of different types of art in our society.   

Art contributes to the student’s personal development in:  

• Creativity  

• Independence  

• Judgement  

• Self-reflection.   

The focus is in developing proficiency in:  

• Drawing  

• Painting  

• Understanding colour and shade  

• Sculpture  

 With the overall aim of developing a:  

• Rigorous understanding  

• Critical awareness  

•  Inspiration of art and design  

The art curriculum will develop the student’s critical abilities and understanding of their own and others’ cultural heritages through studying a diverse range of male and female artists and designers throughout history.  
The students will develop their understanding of the visual language of art with effective teaching and carefully thought out sequences of lessons and experiences. Understanding of the visual elements of art and design (line, tone, texture, colour, pattern, shape, 3D form) will be developed by providing an accessible and engaging curriculum which will enable all of the students to reach their full potential.  

  
We teach a skills-based art curriculum, which allows the students to express their creative imagination as well as providing them with opportunities to practise and develop mastery in the key processes of art: drawing, painting, printing, textiles and sculpture. This is supported through the study of key artists and the development of knowledge of their work.  
Lessons are taught in blocks on a half-termly basis and involve studying existing pieces of art, sketching aspects of these, with a particular focus on the necessary skills, before completing a final piece. The  students  will then be given constructive feedback and next steps, with further opportunities to create the art piece, to improve their work and ensure that the skills are being developed. The evidence of their work is collected within the art sketchbook which follows the children through the school. Photographs of larger, group or 3D pieces are also kept within this book.  

The  student’s knowledge of art history and visual elements of art is recorded through their sketchbooks, whilst the development of their physical skills will be evaluated against Key Performance Indicators in drawing, painting, sculpture and other art, craft and design techniques.