“I found I could say things with colour and shapes that I couldn’t say any other way – things I had no words for.” – Georgia O’Keeffe 

We believe that Art is essential to a well-rounded education. We view Art as a subject that is inclusive and accessible to all, where all children can flourish regardless of their starting point. We aim to allow children the opportunity to express themselves, without fear of making mistakes, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to create their own works of art. We want children to feel confident enough to recognise their own potential as an Artist, not only whilst at St John’s, but in their everyday lives.  

By using our wider curricular themes as stimulus, we strive for all children to be engaged, inspired and challenged by a range of different artists, techniques and mediums. By providing a wide range of high-quality art experiences, we hope to allow children the opportunity to discover their personal preferences as an Artist. We strive to offer a range of strategies to support individual needs of the children and allow them every opportunity to explore their own creativity. 

How Art is taught 

Within an Art unit, disciplinary skills are explicitly taught, then opportunities are provided for the children to create their own art linked to the wider theme.  

Depending on the curriculum cycle, there are four or five Art units per year; organised according to the need of the strand. The Art curriculum allows children to engage regularly with 5 main skills: drawing, 3D form, painting, printing and textiles. The children experience each skill every year, except textiles which is taught every two years due to it's cross over with D&T. 

Across the curriculum, children study a diverse range of carefully chosen Artists which link with, and enrich, the wider theme and support the Art strand.