Art, Design and Technology

Intent
Art & Design, and Design & technology are inspiring, rigorous and practical subjects and, as a school, we believe they play an integral part of our children’s education. 

Art & Design lessons provide pupils with opportunities to develop a range of ways to express their individual creativity whilst learning about the different types of art within society. It contributes to their personal development and enables pupils to develop a greater sense of wonder and curiosity about the world around them. When teaching art & design, our focus is on developing proficiency in drawing, painting and sculpture and developing a better understanding of colour and shade. 

In DT, using creativity and imagination, pupils design and make products that solve real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts, considering their own and others’ needs, wants and values. They acquire a broad range of subject knowledge and draw on disciplines such as mathematics, science, engineering, computing and art. Pupils learn how to take risks, becoming resourceful, innovative, enterprising and capable citizens. Through the evaluation of past and present design and technology, they develop a critical understanding of its impact on daily life and the wider world. High-quality design and technology education make an essential contribution to the creativity, culture, wealth and well-being of the nation. 

At Lynch Hill we aim, in line with the National Curriculum for Art & Design and DT and using Kapow as our planning tool, to ensure that all pupils: 

  •  produce creative work, exploring their ideas and recording their experiences 

  •  become proficient in drawing, painting, sculpture and other art, craft and design techniques 

  •  evaluate and analyse creative works using the language of art, craft and design 

  •  know about great artists, craft makers and designers, and understand the historical and cultural development of their art forms. 

  • develop the creative, technical and practical expertise needed to perform everyday tasks confidently and to participate successfully in an increasingly technological world 

  • build and apply a repertoire of knowledge, understanding and skills in order to design and make high-quality prototypes and products for a wide range of users 

  • critique, evaluate and test their ideas and products and the work of others 

  • understand and apply the principles of nutrition and learn how to cook. 

Implementation 
Our curriculum is designed to develop knowledge and skills that are progressive. 

For example, the Kapow Art & Design revised scheme of work is designed with five strands that run throughout. These are: 

  • Generating ideas 

  • Using sketchbooks 

  • Making skills, including formal elements (line, shape, tone, texture, pattern, colour) 

  • Knowledge of artists 

  • Evaluating and analysing 

For DT, the Kapow scheme of work is organised into 4 key strands: 

  • Design 

  • Make 

  • Evaluate 

  • Technical knowledge  

Units of lessons in both Art & Design and DT are sequential, allowing children to build their skills and knowledge, applying them to a range of outcomes. The formal elements, a key part of the National Curriculum, are also woven throughout units. Key skills are revisited again and again with increasing complexity in a spiral curriculum model. This allows pupils to revise and build on their previous learning.  

Impact 
Outcomes demonstrate children’s acquisition of identified key knowledge. Displays map out the pupils’ learning journey and the end point and, as they progress through the school, they develop a deeper knowledge, understanding and appreciation of both Art & Design and DT. Staff discussions with pupils, along with learning presentations, showcase the children’s depth of understanding and how they are mastering subject specific vocabulary. The impact of Art & Design and DT teaching at Lynch Hill is that we have helped to develop people who can be creative, show appreciation for art and design, take risks, be resourceful and innovative. Through the evaluation of art & design and design technology, both now and in the past, our pupils develop a more critical understanding of their impact on daily life and the wider world.