At St Thomas we believe that every child is an artist and seek to stimulate, enhance and ignite their creative imagination as well as a passion to explore.

To achieve this, it is the intent that children embark on a creative journey during art projects in order to achieve their full potential. This includes children making detailed observational drawings, researching an artist to influence their knowledge of art history and artists varying techniques, draw/construct designs using prior learning and finally create masterpieces that reflect the theme of the project.

1. Stimulate children’s creativity and imagination in an enjoyable manner by completing themed Art projects.
2.  Develop children’s skills enabling them to become proficient in drawing, painting, sculpture and other art, craft and design techniques.
3.  Encourage children to produce creative work, exploring their ideas and recording their experiences in a range of different ways.
4. Become reflective artists by evaluating and analysing creative works using the language of art, craft and design.
5. Be taught about great artists, contemporary artists, craft makers and designers and develop an understanding of the historical and cultural developments of their art forms, in order to inspire and influence their own art and design ideas and experiences.

What does Art and Design look like at St Thomas?

Art is taught once each term by the classroom teacher. Art topics might be taught over a period of hourly lessons or is sometimes blocked over a week- this is to the teacher’s discretion and how best to utilise the time given, staff and resources available to maximise each child’s learning potential.

Teachers are responsible for planning and resourcing enriching art lessons for all children. Art skills are modelled in order to support the children to achieve the outcome of the lesson.

Each child at St Thomas has their own sketchbook. This is a working book where art projects are to be documented and ideas, planning and testing explored.

The art curriculum is skills progressive from EYFS to KS2 and enables children to develop their skills in drawing, painting, printing, collage/textiles and sculpting throughout their learning journey at St Thomas School. Where possible, links to other subjects have been made in order to enhance and support the teaching of the wider curriculum- for example in Year 3 the children learn about the Stone Age in History and Cave Paintings in Art.

In EYFS Art is linked where possible to topics allowing children to safely use and explore a variety of materials and techniques, which they are then encouraged to apply to their independent learning and through continuous provision activities.

Over the years, we have enjoyed being able to invite different artists and sculptors into school and work alongside our children. As a school, we have also planned themed art weeks and have held exhibitions where our parents, children and wider community could view a gallery of work put together by our children.

Our children will gain the skills needed to be able to make detailed, observational drawings of still life set ups, images taken from the internet and in books suited to the theme.

Our children will explore and learn about a wealth of artists and craft makers. They will then work in the style of these people and use this opportunity to further develop their own work. This might be through the style, colour, pattern, medium or technique used for example.

Our children will be reflective artists and will be encouraged to talk using artistic vocabulary and also share their feelings towards pieces of art, what it might represent to them and how this might impact their own art work.

Our children will have worked with a range of materials and developed an understanding of different art and craft techniques before they end their St Thomas journey equipping them with a wealthy grounding of art skills ready for High School.

Our children will have been taught in a safe, positive environment where art work is celebrated and children feel proud of their own achievements.

Art Long Term Overview-Progression of Skills