Primrose Hill Primary School

Welcome to Art and Design at Primrose Hill Primary School

Our Vision and Intent

At Primrose Hill Primary School, we believe that Art and Design plays an important role in developing curious, knowledgeable and confident learners. Our aim is to provide an engaging and ambitious curriculum that builds on children's prior knowledge, develops essential skills and inspires a lifelong interest in the subject.

Through our teaching, we want all children to develop practical mastery in key artistic disciplines alongside a rich understanding of visual literacy (find, interpret, evaluate, use), creative expression, and diverse artists across history and cultures, make meaningful connections with the world around them and understand how their learning can be applied beyond the classroom.

Intent

At the heart of our Art and Design curriculum is the belief that every child is an artist, empowered to express their unique voice and observe the world with curiosity. We nurture creative confidence by introducing pupils to a diverse range of artists, craft makers, and designers across history and cultures. Through a rich, progressive pathway, children master key skills in drawing, painting, sculpture, collage and craft techniques while experimenting with varied materials and techniques. Every child learns to use sketchbooks as reflective spaces to explore ideas, refine technical proficiency, and evaluate their own work. We foster critical thinking, visual literacy, and a lifelong appreciation for the transformative power of human creativity.

Think Like an Artist

We want our children to develop the skills and mindset of real subject specialists. Through our curriculum, children will have opportunities to think, question, explore and work like an artist and designer.

Children will have opportunities to:

Master fundamental techniques in drawing, painting, sculpture, collage and craft-making, using sketchbooks to experiment with media, refine skills, and develop personal style over time.
Investigate visual language and creative processes, questioning how line, tone, texture, colour, pattern, and shape can be used to convey meaning, emotion and perspective.
Develop and apply knowledge of diverse artists, craft makers, and designers from varied cultures, historical periods, and artistic movements to inspire and inform their own creative choices.
Make connections between art, culture, and the wider world, exploring how visual art reflects identity, records history, and shapes the physical and digital environments around us.
Communicate creative ideas and showcase learning, using artistic vocabulary to evaluate their own work, offer constructive peer feedback, and curate exhibitions for the school community.

Aspirations and Future Careers

We want children to understand how their learning connects to the wider world and the many opportunities available to them in the future. Through Art and Design, we aim to broaden children's aspirations and help them discover interests, talents and potential career pathways.

Careers linked to this subject that children may explore include:

Illustrator & Animator – Creating visual artwork for books, comics, games, and animated films to bring stories and characters to life.
Architect & Interior Designer – Designing safe, functional, and visually inspiring spaces, buildings, and environments for people to live and work in.
Graphic & UI/UX Designer – Crafting logos, branding, posters, website interfaces, and digital experiences that communicate ideas clearly.
Fine Artist & Sculptor – Expressing ideas, emotions, and concepts through original paintings, sculptures, and gallery installations.
Gallery Curator & Art Restorer – Selecting, managing, and preserving historical and contemporary artwork so future generations can enjoy and learn from it.

Our Curriculum

Our Art and Design curriculum is carefully planned to build children's knowledge and skills progressively as they move through the school. Learning is designed to revisit and build upon prior knowledge, develop subject-specific vocabulary and ensure that children have the foundations they need for future learning.

Please see the attached curriculum objectives, which outline the knowledge and skills children are expected to develop in line with the National Curriculum.

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