Art

Art

  Intent

We believe that art is a vital part of a broad and balanced curriculum, and that it contributes significantly to pupils’ personal development. Our approach to art education supports: 

• Creative exploration: Encouraging children to experiment with materials, techniques, and ideas in a safe and supportive environment. 
• Spiritual growth: Providing opportunities for reflection, connection with nature, and expression of personal meaning through visual language. 
• Cultural awareness: Introducing pupils to a diverse range of artists, styles, and traditions to broaden their understanding of the world. 
• Skill progression: Ensuring pupils build technical competence and confidence in drawing, painting, sculpture, and mixed media. 
• Celebration of individuality: Valuing each child’s unique perspective and fostering self-esteem through artistic achievement. 

Implementation

• Ensure the art curriculum is broad, balanced, and progressive across all key stages, aligned with the National Curriculum and the school’s Christian values. 
• Embed opportunities for spiritual reflection, cultural exploration, and personal expression within art units. 
• Plan termly themes that incorporate cross-curricular links, including RE, PSHE, and outdoor learning. 

• Provide staff with clear guidance and resources to deliver engaging and inclusive art lessons. 
• Use a variety of media and techniques to allow pupils to explore and develop their creativity. 
• Encourage pupil-led projects and open-ended tasks to foster independence and ownership of learning. 

• Include art activities that promote spiritual growth, such as nature-inspired work, reflective journaling, and symbolic art. 
• Celebrate diverse artistic traditions and faith-based artwork to enhance pupils’ cultural understanding. 
• Organise visits to galleries, exhibitions, or invite local artists to enrich pupils’ experiences. 

• Monitor pupils’ progress in both technical skills and creative development. 
• Maintain sketchbooks to track individual growth and reflect on personal journeys throughout their whole journey at Bryn Offa. 
• Provide opportunities for pupils to evaluate their own work and articulate their creative choices. 

• Create a visually stimulating environment that celebrates pupils’ artwork and promotes pride in achievement. 
• Use displays to highlight spiritual themes, cultural diversity, and collaborative projects. 
• Ensure classroom and communal spaces support creativity and exploration. 

• Offer CPD opportunities focused on art teaching, creativity in the curriculum, and spiritual development through the arts. 
• Encourage staff to share best practices and collaborate on cross-curricular initiatives. 

Impact

• Demonstrate clear progression in artistic skills, including drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, digital media and mixed media. 
• Apply techniques with increasing confidence and independence, showing pride in their work and creative choices. 
• Use visual language to communicate ideas, feelings, and responses to the world around them. 

• Gain insight into a wide range of artistic traditions, styles, and faith-based expressions from different cultures. 
• Show respect and curiosity for diverse perspectives and the role of art in shaping identity and belief. 

• Enhance the school environment through vibrant displays that reflect spiritual themes, cultural diversity, and pupil achievement. 
• Contribute to a positive school culture where creativity, collaboration, and reflection are valued and celebrated. 

• Pupil voice, sketchbook reviews, and classroom observations demonstrate increased engagement, enjoyment, and personal growth in art. 
• Staff will report greater confidence in delivering art lessons that support both skill development and spiritual reflection. 
• The school will see improved outcomes in creativity, wellbeing, and cross-curricular learning. 

• Develop a deeper sense of self-awareness, reflection, and emotional expression through creative exploration. 
• Experience moments of awe, wonder, and connection with the natural world and wider human experience. 
• Build resilience and confidence by engaging in open-ended tasks that celebrate individuality and personal meaning. 

Useful Websites

Here are some useful websites for you to support your child's art learning at home:

• The Artful Parent: You can access over 500 arts and crafts activities, including painting, sculptures and printmaking. This site gives you ideas of what Art supplies to provide for you child in order to create and make different things. https://artfulparent.com/kids-arts-crafts-activities-500-fun-artful-things-kids/
• Land Art for Kids: A website which gives you ideas on how to collect natural resources to produce different forms of Art. http://www.landartforkids.com/
• Tate Kids-The Best Art Website for Kids: Kids can follow instructions to make different things, play art games and quizzes and explore and read about the work of well-known artists. https://www.tate.org.uk/kids?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIu8WF6J_C6QIVVeDtCh04qwjXEAAYAiAAEgKMGPD_BwE
• BBC Bitesize Art and Design: You can watch class clips on famous artists, techniques and how to create different things. https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/z8tnvcw