Subject Policy

ART Policy

How do we teach Art and Design?

Intent:

At Longton Primary School Art should be fully inclusive to every child.  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, develop the 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, 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 teaching at Longton Primary School instils an appreciation and enjoyment of the visual arts.  Art and Design stimulate 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 promote 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 aims of teaching Art and Design in our school are:

• To engage, inspire and challenge pupils, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to experiment, invent and create their own works of art, craft and design.
• As pupils progress through school, they should begin to think critically and develop a more rigorous understanding of art and design. They should also know how art and design both reflect and shape our history, and contribute to the culture, creativity and wealth of our nation.
• To produce creative work, exploring their ideas and recording their experiences.
• To become proficient in drawing, painting, sculpture and other art, craft and design techniques
• To evaluate and analyse creative works using the language of art, craft and design.
• To know about great artists, craft makers and designers, and understand the historical and cultural development of their art forms.

Implementation:

To ensure high standards of teaching and learning in Art and Design, we implement a curriculum that is progressive throughout the whole school.  Art and Design is taught as part of a termly topic, focusing on knowledge and skills stated in the National Curriculum.  At Longton, we ensure that art and design is given the same importance as the core subjects, as we feel this is important in enabling all children to gain ‘real-life’ experiences.

The Art and Design curriculum at Longton 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.  Teachers plan lessons for their class using our progression of knowledge and skills document.  Teachers can use this document to plan their art and design lessons suitable to their class’s interests and what they want to learn.  The progression document ensures the curriculum is covered and the skills/knowledge taught is progressive from year group to year group.

When teaching Art and Design, teachers should follow the children’s interests to ensure their learning is engaging, broad and balanced.  A variety of teaching approaches are used based on the teacher’s judgement.

Art and Design provide excellent opportunities to enhance the learning of more able pupils through exploration, analysis of art forms and effective learning.  These children will be selected for appropriate enrichment opportunities throughout the year.

At Longton Primary School we provide a variety of opportunities for Art and Design learning inside and outside the classroom.  Every year we have an ‘Art Week’ where the subject leader plans fun, engaging whole school activities linked to Art and Design for the children to complete.  These activities should be guided by the children’s interests in particular topics. The enrichment week also offers an opportunity for parents to engage with the school and join in with their children’s learning.

Educational visits are another opportunity for the teachers to plan for additional Art and Design learning outside the classroom.  At Longton Primary School, the children have had many opportunities to experience Art and Design on educational visits.  The children have explored local galleries and had visitors into school to share Art and Design learning and have hands on experiences. 

Impact:

Within Art and Design, we strive to create a supportive and collaborative ethos for learning by providing investigative and skills-based learning opportunities.  Emphasis is placed on investigative learning opportunities to help children gain a coherent knowledge of understanding of each unit of work covered throughout the school.

Our Art and Design curriculum is high quality, well thought out and is planned to demonstrate progression.  We focus on progression of knowledge and skills and discreet vocabulary progression also form part of the units of work.

We measure the impact of our curriculum through the following methods:

• Assessing children’s understanding of topic linked vocabulary before and after the unit is taught.
• Summative assessment of pupil discussions about their learning.
• Images and videos of the children’s practical learning.
• Interviewing the pupils about their learning (pupil voice).
• Moderation staff meetings where pupil’s books are scrutinised and there is the opportunity for a dialogue between teachers to understand their class’s work.
• Annual reporting of standards across the curriculum.

DT Policy 

How do we teach Design and Technology?

 

Intent:

 

At Longton Primary School design and technology should be fully inclusive to every child. Our aims are to: fulfil the requirements of the National Curriculum for Design and Technology, provide a broad and balanced curriculum, ensure the progressive development of knowledge and skills, to learn how to take risks, becoming resourceful, innovative, enterprising and capable citizens through evaluation of past and present design and technology, develop a critical understanding of its impact on daily life and the wider world, to participate successfully in an increasingly technological world using the language of design and technology.

 

The aims of teaching Design and Technology in our school are:

 

Develop creative, technical and imaginative thinking in children and to develop confidence to participate successfully in an increasingly technological world.

Enable children to talk about how things work and to develop their technical knowledge,

Apply a growing body of knowledge, understanding and skills in order to design and make prototypes and products for a wide range of users,

Encourage children to select appropriate tools and techniques when making a product, whilst following safe procedures,

Develop an understanding of technological processes and products, their manufacture and their contribution to our society,

Foster enjoyment, satisfaction and purpose in designing and making things,

Critique, evaluate and test their ideas and products, and the work of others,

Understand and apply the principles of nutrition and to learn how to cook,

Understand how key events and individuals in design and technology have helped shape the world.

Implementation:

 

To ensure high standards of teaching and learning in design and technology, we implement a curriculum that is progressive throughout the whole school. Design and Technology is taught as part of a ½ termly topic, focusing on knowledge and skills stated in the National Curriculum.  At Longton, we ensure that design and technology is given the same importance as the core subjects, as we feel this is important in enabling all children to gain ‘real-life’ experiences.

 

The Design and Technology curriculum at Longton Primary School is based upon the 2014 Primary National Curriculum in England, which provides a broad framework and outlines the knowledge and skills taught in each Key Stage.  Teachers plan lessons for their class using our the Kapow Currioculum.  Teachers can use this document to plan their Design and Technology lessons suitable to their class’s interests and what they want to learn about.  The use of the Kapow curriculum ensures that skills/knowledge taught is progressive from year group to year group.

 

When teaching Design and Technology, teachers should follow the children’s interests to ensure their learning is engaging, broad and balanced.  A variety of teaching approaches are used based on the teacher’s judgement.  Children showing extensive aptitude in design and technology will be celebrated in weekly celebration assemblies. These students may also have their work displayed in school and may win competitions that we take part in (For example, the local Rotary Club competition).

 

Educational visits are another opportunity for the teachers to plan for additional design and technology learning outside the classroom.  At Longton Primary School, the children have many opportunities to experience design and technology on educational visits.  The children have visited local museums,BAE systems, DAF trucks, food establishments and had visitors into school to share learning and have hands on experiences.  In recent years, teachers have linked with local high schools to use their facilities, technology and expertise.  At Longton Primary School, teachers make use of the extensive grounds and outdoor learning area when planning for their students.

 

Alongside our curriculum provision for Design and Technology, we also provide all pupils with the opportunity to participate in DT based after school clubs and DT class compliment activities.

 

Impact:

 

Within Design and Technology, we strive to prepare children to take part in the development of tomorrow’s rapidly changing world.  We aim to encourage children to become creative problem-solvers, both as individuals and as part of a team.  Through the study of design and technology, children combine practical skills with an understanding of aesthetic, social and environmental issues, as well as of functions and industrial practices.  This allows them to reflect on and evaluate present and past design and technology, its uses and its impact.  Our Design and Technology curriculum is high quality, well thought out and is planned to demonstrate progression.  We focus on progression of knowledge and skills and discreet vocabulary progression also form part of the units of work.

 

We measure the impact of our curriculum through the following methods:

 

Assessing children’s understanding of topic linked vocabulary before and after the unit is taught.

Summative assessment of pupil discussions about their learning.

Images and videos of the children’s practical learning.

Interviewing the pupils about their learning (pupil voice).

Moderation staff meetings where pupil’s books are scrutinised and there is the opportunity for a dialogue between teachers to understand their class’s work.

Annual reporting of standards across the curriculum.

Marking of work in books.

Utilising the foundation subject tracker.

Working in phase groups to plan.