At Edward Pauling Primary School,  Art and Design inspires children to be creative, curious and confident. Through a progressive curriculum, pupils develop their artistic skills, knowledge and understanding while discovering that there are many different ways to express ideas and respond to the world around them.

Children use sketchbooks as a personal space to explore, experiment and develop ideas, recording observations, trying out different techniques and revisiting their work. They take inspiration from a diverse range of artists, craftspeople and designers and use what they discover to inform their own creative responses.

Our pupils develop a broad range of making skills, including drawing, painting and mixed media, sculpture and 3D, craft and design, printmaking and photography. They learn to select and use a variety of materials, tools and techniques, building their confidence and control as they progress through the school.

The formal elements of art are woven throughout our learning. Children explore line, shape, colour, form, tone, texture and pattern, learning how these elements can be combined to create different effects and communicate ideas.

We place great importance on learning about artists and their work. Pupils encounter artists from different periods, cultures and backgrounds, exploring their ideas, materials, processes and techniques. This develops their understanding of art and provides inspiration for their own work.

Children are also encouraged to evaluate and analyse art, using appropriate vocabulary to talk about their own work and the work of others. They learn to reflect on their creative choices, identify strengths, consider improvements and understand that experimentation, mistakes and changes are an important part of the artistic process.

Through Art and Design, we aim to nurture creative thinkers, skilled makers and confident young artists who enjoy exploring ideas, expressing themselves and appreciating the world of art.