Miss B Checkley - Art Leader

Art at Birchwood Junior School

At Birchwood Junior School, we believe that art is a vital part of every child’s education. It is a subject that inspires creativity, encourages self-expression, and allows children to explore the world around them in new and imaginative ways.

By the time pupils leave our school, they will have developed a secure knowledge of great artists, architects and designers, and will be confident in discussing and debating art. More importantly, they will have experienced the joy of creating, experimenting and expressing themselves through a wide range of artistic techniques.

Our Approach to Teaching Art

Art and design at Birchwood is much more than a hobby or an add-on to topic work. We view it as a subject in its own right – one that combines practical skills with critical thinking. While our aim is for art to be enjoyable and therapeutic, we also want children to develop the knowledge, language and skills to view themselves as artists.

Through our curriculum, children learn to:

• Explore and record their ideas creatively.

• Build proficiency in the four key disciplines: drawing, painting, sculpture and craft/design.

• Apply artistic skills to express their understanding, feelings and ideas.

• Enrich their learning across the curriculum through visual and creative outcomes, not just written work.

What the National Curriculum Ensures

Our teaching is guided by the National Curriculum, which sets out that all pupils should:

• Produce creative work, exploring their ideas and recording their experiences.

• Become proficient in a range of techniques, including drawing, painting, sculpture and other art, craft and design forms.

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

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

Developing Skills and Techniques

Pupils are taught to develop their control of materials through creativity, experimentation and reflection. This includes:

• Using sketchbooks to record observations, review progress and revisit ideas.

• Mastering techniques in drawing, painting and sculpture using a variety of materials such as pencil, charcoal, paint and clay.

• Studying influential figures in art, architecture and design to inspire and broaden their understanding of the subject.