Art and Design
Preparing, Sowing, Growing through creativity and expression
At Christ Church, Art and Design helps children to express themselves, explore their creativity and understand the world through visual language. Through developing skills, experimenting with materials and reflecting on their work, pupils grow in confidence and imagination—supporting our vision of Preparing, Sowing and Growing and our Christian values at the heart of school life.
Our Vision in Art and Design
Preparing
Through Art and Design, we prepare children with the skills and knowledge they need to express ideas creatively and confidently. Pupils learn about techniques, materials and artists, developing the ability to observe, create and evaluate their work—preparing them for future learning and wider cultural understanding.
Sowing
Art lessons sow creativity, curiosity and imagination. Through exploring different materials, artists and cultures, children are encouraged to experiment and take inspiration from the world around them. These experiences nurture Christian values such as Compassion, Respect and Friendship, as pupils learn to appreciate others’ ideas and express their own thoughtfully.
Growing
As pupils progress, they grow in confidence, resilience and independence. Art encourages children to take risks, reflect on their work and persevere to improve. Pupils develop courage to share their ideas and pride in their achievements—living out values such as Courage, Perseverance and Responsibility.
Why we teach Art and Design
We teach Art and Design so that children can:
- Express their ideas, thoughts and feelings creatively
- Develop practical skills in drawing, painting, sculpture and design
- Learn about artists, cultures and creative traditions
- Build confidence, resilience and a sense of pride in their work
This supports our vision by preparing pupils for life, sowing creativity and growing confident individuals.
What children learn
Our Art and Design curriculum is carefully planned so that skills and knowledge build over time.
- In Key Stage 1, children explore colour, shape, texture and pattern. They experiment with different materials and begin to create and talk about their work.
- In Key Stage 2, pupils develop more advanced techniques and begin to plan, refine and evaluate their artwork. They study a range of artists and styles, and develop their own creative responses.
Across all year groups, children learn about key elements such as line, colour, tone, texture and form, and develop the vocabulary to describe and evaluate art confidently.
By the end of Year 6, pupils have a strong portfolio of work showing progression in skills and confidence, and an understanding of how art connects to culture and community.
How we teach Art and Design
Our Art and Design curriculum is creative, structured and progressive.
- We follow a carefully sequenced curriculum using Oak National Academy and AccessArt to ensure progression in skills and knowledge.
- Pupils are taught specific techniques step by step before applying them more independently.
- Learning includes a balance of teacher guidance and opportunities for creative exploration.
- Sketchbooks are used to develop ideas, practise skills and reflect on progress.
- Outdoor learning and our local environment are used to inspire creativity, including observational drawing and natural sculpture.
This approach helps creativity to develop over time, allowing ideas and skills to take root and grow, reflecting the message of the mustard seed within our school vision.
Preparing children for the future
Our aim is that every child leaves Christ Church:
- With confidence in expressing themselves creatively
- With a strong foundation of artistic skills and techniques
- With an appreciation of art, culture and diversity
- With resilience, pride and independence in their learning
Through Art and Design, we nurture pupils who are creative, confident and reflective, ready to continue their learning and contribute to the world around them.