Art Curriculum

Intent

At Dunn Street our Art and Design curriculum aims to inspire creativity, build cultural
capital, and develop the skills and confidence of all our children from Nursery to Year
6.
We intend:

To introduce children to a broad range of artists, movements, and mediums,
fostering an appreciation of artistic diversity.
To develop skills, creativity, and positive attitudes towards Art and Design
throughout their primary education.
To ensure progression across all key stages, supporting children to achieve
and exceed potential.
To help children understand that Art is a process as well as a product, and
that experimentation and exploration are central to creativity.
To encourage children to recognise that Art can be interpreted in multiple
ways and that responses to art may differ.
To enable children to articulate the processes they have used and the skills
they have developed.
To nurture a positive growth mindset in Art and Design, encouraging
persistence, experimentation, and reflection.
To ensure that all children have access to a high-quality Art and Design
curriculum, regardless of ability or background.

Implementation

The Art and Design curriculum provides a stimulating and structured journey through
a wide range of artistic disciplines, including drawing, painting and mixed media,
sculpture and 3D work, and craft and design. Pupils develop key skills in mark-
making, colour theory, texture, form, and design through engaging units such as
Marvellous Marks, Paint My World, Clay Houses, Life in Colour, Ancient Egyptian
Scrolls, and Portraits.

Learning is hands-on and exploratory, allowing pupils to experiment with different
materials, techniques, and processes while building confidence in their creative
decisions. Through activities such as Interactive Installation, Fabric of Nature, and
Artist Study, pupils gain experience in both individual and collaborative projects,
understanding how their ideas can evolve from concept to final outcome.

The curriculum also encourages reflection and critical thinking, with pupils evaluating
their own work and the work of others, developing a rich visual vocabulary, and
understanding the historical and cultural contexts of the art they create. Across all
units, pupils progress in technical competence, creative exploration, and personal
expression, fostering a lifelong appreciation for art and preparing them for future
artistic study.

Impact

Pupils will confidently self-assess their Art and Design work at the end of each unit,
term, or skill focus. Sketchbooks will document assessment processes, including
pupil reflections, comments, and evidence of skill progression. Pupil voice will
capture children’s thoughts and experiences, informing future planning and
curriculum development. Feedback from teachers and peers will support the
continuous improvement of Art and Design provision. Sketchbooks will provide clear
evidence of the skills, knowledge, and range of mediums taught, demonstrating
progression across the year and key stages. Assessments will show measurable
improvement in pupils’ understanding and skills, with children able to discuss their
work, explain processes, and reflect on their learning confidently.

art and design overview dunn street.pdf