Art is a way of expressing ideas, feelings, and imagination through creating and exploring.
It helps us communicate what we see, think, and feel by drawing, painting, sculpting, printing, and using a range of materials and techniques.

By looking at art, we can learn about different cultures, artists, styles, and ways of seeing the world.

Through creating our own artwork, we can experiment, solve problems, and share our ideas with others.

By displaying and discussing art, we can build confidence, appreciate creativity, and inspire one another.

 

Art Enrichment and Enhancement at John Blow Primary School

At John Blow Primary School, we believe that art provides children with opportunities to explore, express and understand the world around them. Our art curriculum is carefully designed to expose pupils to a wide range of artists, craftspeople and designers from different cultures, backgrounds, time periods and artistic movements, enabling them to develop both their artistic skills and their understanding of diversity and representation.

We aim for children not only to develop technical artistic knowledge and skills, but also to gain an appreciation of how art reflects individual experiences, communities, cultures and societies. Through studying a broad range of artists and artwork, pupils learn how creativity can communicate ideas, challenge perceptions and celebrate diversity.

As a school rooted within the local community of Collingham and the surrounding Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire area, we recognise the importance of broadening children's cultural understanding beyond their immediate experiences. The art curriculum plays a key role in developing pupils' cultural capital by introducing them to artists from across the world and from a variety of backgrounds.

Throughout their time at John Blow Primary School, children study artists who represent a diverse range of:

• ages
• disabilities
• ethnicities and cultures
• genders
• religions and beliefs
• sexual orientations
• socio-economic backgrounds

This ensures that pupils encounter positive role models and gain an understanding of the contribution that people from all backgrounds have made to the world of art and design.

Across the school, opportunities are provided for children to:

• explore the work of artists from different cultures, countries and historical periods
• study contemporary and traditional artists, craftspeople and designers
• discuss how artists communicate ideas, emotions and experiences through their work
• examine artwork that reflects different identities, communities and lived experiences
• make connections between artists and their own creative work
• experiment with a range of media, techniques and artistic styles inspired by artists they have studied
• showcase their artwork through classroom and school displays

Educational experiences are carefully planned to support and enhance classroom learning. Where appropriate, learning is linked to wider curriculum themes, enabling pupils to make meaningful connections between art and other subjects. Through studying a diverse range of artists, children develop their understanding of artistic techniques alongside their appreciation of different perspectives and cultures.

In addition to planned curriculum opportunities, pupils benefit from wider cultural experiences that support their understanding of art and creativity, including:

• celebrating national and international events linked to art and culture
• exploring artwork connected to significant historical, cultural and religious events
• participating in whole-school display projects
• opportunities to respond creatively to current topics and themes
• engagement with local and national artistic influences where appropriate

Through these experiences, we aim to develop children who are creative, reflective and open-minded, with an appreciation of the richness and diversity of artistic expression and an understanding of the important role that art plays in society.

The teaching staff of John Blow School collaboratively developed this, supported by curriculum guidance and best practice research. This curriculum is underpinned by research-informed approaches and has been carefully mapped against the National Curriculum to ensure full coverage.

Please contact the school if you require additional information.