“Creativity takes courage.” – Henri Matisse

Art & Design at Captains Close Primary School

Belonging · Ambition · Equity

Art & Design enables pupils to express themselves, explore ideas and communicate visually. Our curriculum nurtures creativity, imagination and technical skill, helping children develop confidence as artists and designers. Pupils learn to experiment, take risks and appreciate art from diverse cultures, traditions and periods.

Our approach is shaped by the Discovery Trust DNA and grounded in evidenceinformed practice.

Curriculum Intent

Our intent for Art & Design is to ensure all pupils:

• Develop creativity, imagination and artistic confidence.
• Learn and apply a range of artistic techniques.
• Understand and use visual vocabulary.
• Explore art from diverse cultures and periods.
• Evaluate and reflect on their own and others’ work.
• Experience equity through adaptive teaching.

Curriculum Implementation

We deliver our Art & Design curriculum through:

Artistic Techniques

• Drawing
• Painting
• Sculpture
• Textiles.
• Digital art.

Knowledge-Rich Teaching

• Artist studies.
• Cultural art exploration.
• Vocabulary instruction.
• Modelling and guided practice.

Creative Process

• Experimenting
• Planning
• Creating
• Evaluating

Progression

• Long-term map.
• Skills progression.
• Techniques progression.
• Vocabulary progression.

Assessment

• Sketchbook evidence.
• Final pieces.
• Pupil voice.
• Work scrutiny.

Curriculum Impact

We measure impact through:

• Quality of artwork.
• Use of artistic techniques.
• Creativity and originality.
• Pupil voice.
• Assessment information.

Pupils can:

• Talk confidently about art.
• Use artistic vocabulary.
• Apply techniques independently.
• Reflect on their work.

Protected Characteristics in Art & Design

We ensure pupils learn about and respect protected characteristics through:

• Studying artists from diverse backgrounds.
• Exploring global art traditions.
• Challenging stereotypes about who can be an artist.
• Ensuring SEND pupils access all artistic activities.
• Celebrating identity, culture and individuality through art.

Examples include:

• Frida Kahlo (disability, gender).
• Yinka Shonibare (race, culture).
• Yayoi Kusama (disability).
• Faith Ringgold (race, gender).

British Values in Art & Design

British Values are woven through Art & Design lessons:

• Democracy: Sharing ideas and making creative choices.
• Rule of Law: Respecting materials, tools and studio rules.
• Individual Liberty: Expressing personal identity through art.
• Mutual Respect: Appreciating others’ artwork.
• Tolerance: Exploring art from diverse cultures and beliefs.

Long-Term Curriculum Map

A full long-term map for Art & Design can be found here.

Progression Documents

Our progression documents show how knowledge and skills build from EYFS to Year 6:

• Drawing progression.
• Painting progression.
• Sculpture progression.
• Techniques progression.
• Vocabulary progression.

Vocabulary

Vocabulary is taught explicitly and revisited regularly.

We focus on:

• Tier 2: descriptive vocabulary.
• Tier 3: artistic terminology.

SEND & Equity

All pupils access the full Art & Design curriculum through:

• Adaptive teaching.
• Scaffolding
• Visual supports.
• Regulation strategies.
• Personalised resources.

Enrichment & Wider Opportunities

Art enrichment includes:

• Artist workshops.
• Gallery visits.
• Whole-school art projects.
• Exhibitions
• Community art links.

How to Find Out More

Parents and carers can request further information about our Art & Design curriculum by contacting the school office.