Vision

Our Art and Design Curriculum is based around the idea that art is far more than a series of technical skills. Our holistic curriculum nurtures creative thinking skills and helps ensure our pupils learn through art, as well as about art.

Curriculum Design: How our curriculum is constructed and why?

It’s our aim that by the time every child leaves primary school they can feel as if they have found an area of the visual arts that is relevant and engaging to them – that might be through drawing, or making, or designing, or talking about art. We’ve thought carefully about the purpose of art. Not just in relation to the purpose of teaching art in school but the relevance of art in all our lives. Kapow promotes open-ended creative learning where the emphasis is on the journey. 

The programme of study we use, Kapow, is a curriculum designed around the idea that art is far more than a series of technical skills. Our holistic curriculum nurtures creative thinking skills and helps ensure your pupils learn through art, as well as about art. Alongside the knowledge-rich curiculum, pupils will learn a wide range of skills, developing understanding and showing clear progression. But crucially, the knowledge and understanding pupils will build will go far beyond the technical, factual knowledge many current curriculums focus upon. Our curriculum balances declarative knowledge with experiential knowledge, building self-knowledge and nurturing traits in learners which will hold them in good stead whichever direction their learning takes them. 

Curriculum Delivery: What our curriculum looks and feels like in action?

Within our school timetable, there is an hour a week dedicated to either Art and Design or Design and Technology, depending on the unit of study in the curriculum overview. Each unit is linked to the wider curriculum so that learning is interconnected and built on prior learning. Each year group begins with a drawing unit, providing opportunities for pupils to introduce or revisit key formal elements of art, including line, shape, form and texture. This establishes a strong foundation of knowledge and skills, which pupils can build upon throughout the wider Art and Design curriculum.

Impact: How do we know our pupils are learning, understanding and remembering our intended curriculum?

The Kapow curriculum follows a spiral approach, enabling children to revisit and progressively develop their understanding of key themes, concepts and skills throughout their education. This carefully structured approach encourages pupils to make meaningful connections between areas of learning, consolidate their knowledge and develop increasing confidence and mastery over time. Pupils revisit key concepts, which are then expanded upon with regular exposure to ensure that key knowledge is not forgotten. Pupils develop their skills by learning, adapting and refining techniques in different contexts, improving their ability to think critically and solve problems.

Kapow knowledge organiser for each unit of learning. This clearly outlines the key knowledge, vocabulary and concepts that pupils are expected to understand and remember. Knowledge organisers provide children with a valuable reference point, supporting them to revisit and consolidate their learning. They are accessible within pupils’ art sketchbooks and through Google Classroom, allowing children to independently refer back to this essential information throughout their learning.