ART
Intent
At Maltby Manor, our Art and Design curriculum aims to inspire pupils to think, work, and communicate like artists. Through the Working Artistically approach, we provide opportunities for children to develop technical skills, creativity, and critical thinking, enabling them to express themselves confidently and reflectively.
Our curriculum is organised into six key blocks—Drawing, Painting, Printmaking, Textiles, 3D, and Collage—with vertical progression deliberately built in. Pupils revisit these disciplines throughout their primary journey at increasing levels of challenge and complexity, ensuring that knowledge and skills are reinforced and deepened over time.
Each module emphasises the artistic process, encouraging pupils to explore, experiment, and refine their work. They are supported to develop their technical skills and understanding while using subject-specific vocabulary to talk about their own work and that of others. Knowledge notes and quizzes consolidate learning, ensuring pupils can define, connect, and apply key terminology meaningfully.
Pupils are also introduced to a diverse range of artists, styles, and movements, helping them to contextualize their learning and gain inspiration from different cultures and historical periods. This approach fosters thoughtful, reflective, and expressive young artists who are confident in their ability to communicate ideas visually.
Through high-quality teaching, clear progression, and careful support for vocabulary and technique, our Art and Design curriculum ensures that pupils not only acquire knowledge as artists but also develop the confidence and curiosity to apply their skills creatively in a range of contexts.
Implementation
At Maltby Manor, the teaching and learning of Art is structured around the Working Artistically approach, providing pupils with a clear framework to explore, create, and reflect. The curriculum is delivered in blocks, each focusing on a distinct discipline: Drawing, Painting, Printmaking, Textiles, 3D, and Collage. Each block builds on prior learning, allowing pupils to revisit key skills and knowledge at increasing levels of complexity.
Curriculum Delivery
- Pupils receive high-quality Art lessons delivered by class teachers, supported by comprehensive lesson resources including skeleton lesson plans, instructional videos, exemplar work, and knowledge notes.
- Lessons are sequenced to develop technical skills alongside creativity, ensuring pupils understand not only how to create art but also the purpose and context behind it.
- Pupils are encouraged to explore multiple techniques, experiment with materials, and develop their own style, while being guided through clear learning objectives.
Integration of Knowledge and Skills
- Technical vocabulary is explicitly taught and reinforced throughout each block, with pupils completing vocabulary quizzes to consolidate learning.
- Historical, cultural, and contextual knowledge is embedded in each unit, allowing pupils to make connections between their work and the wider artistic world.
- Pupils are supported to articulate their ideas, using subject-specific language to critique their own work and the work of others, fostering reflective and thoughtful engagement with Art.
EYFS
- In the Early Years Foundation Stage, children explore textures, colors, and materials through sensory and creative experiences.
- They develop fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and basic art vocabulary, learning to express ideas and feelings through their work.
- These early experiences provide the foundation for structured approaches in KS1 and KS2, preparing pupils to engage confidently with the Working Artistically framework.
Progression and Assessment
- A spiral curriculum ensures pupils revisit and extend skills in each discipline over time, enabling measurable progression from EYFS through Year 6.
- Assessment is ongoing and formative, using teacher observation, discussion, and pupil outcomes to monitor skill acquisition and understanding.
- Exemplification materials and knowledge notes support consistent teacher assessment, providing a benchmark for expectations at each year group.
Broader Opportunities
- Pupils are encouraged to participate in extra-curricular Art activities, exhibitions, and cross-curricular projects to apply their learning in meaningful contexts.
- Art is used to foster creativity, resilience, and self-expression, giving pupils the confidence to explore new ideas and techniques.
Through this structured yet creative approach, pupils at Maltby Manor develop the technical skills, knowledge, and confidence to work as artists, preparing them for future artistic challenges and opportunities.
Impact
The impact of the Art curriculum at Maltby Manor is seen in pupils’ confidence, creativity, and technical skill development. Through structured, high-quality lessons, children acquire the knowledge and practical abilities to work as artists across a range of disciplines, including Drawing, Painting, Printmaking, Textiles, 3D, and Collage.
Pupils develop the ability to reflect on and evaluate their own work and that of others, using subject-specific vocabulary to discuss techniques, materials, and artistic intent. This nurtures critical thinking, creativity, and the ability to articulate ideas effectively.
By revisiting key skills and concepts over time, pupils demonstrate progression in technical expertise, conceptual understanding, and personal expression from EYFS through Year 6. Children show resilience in tackling challenges, innovation in exploring materials, and enjoyment in creating meaningful artistic outcomes.
Assessment evidence, including pupil work, vocabulary quizzes, and teacher observations, shows that pupils meet the expected standards for their age and are well-prepared for future artistic learning.
Beyond the classroom, pupils apply their skills in exhibitions, cross-curricular projects, and extra-curricular opportunities, developing a sense of pride, collaboration, and ownership over their creative achievements. Art at Maltby Manor not only develops technical skills but also fosters personal growth, self-expression, and a lifelong appreciation of creativity.