Breckland School

Art & Design

“Art is not what you see, but what you make others see”  

Edgar Degas 

Curriculum Intent 
Art embodies some of the highest forms of human creativity. Art must engage, inspire and challenge students, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to experiment, invent and create their own works of Art. Students should know about how Art both reflects and shapes our history, and contributes to the culture, creativity and wealth of our nation.  Art contributes to children’s personal development in creativity, independence, judgement and self-reflection. 
Powerful knowledge in Art  
Our aim in Art and Design at Breckland School is to provide students with opportunities to develop a range of ways in which they can share and express their individual creativity, whilst learning about and making links with a wide spectrum of different types of art in our society.  The Art curriculum will develop children’s critical abilities and understanding of their own and others’ cultural heritages through studying a diverse range of artists and designers throughout history. 
Curriculum Features 
The art curriculum teaches students how to use a range of techniques to record their observations in sketchbooks, journals and other media as a basis for exploring their ideas. We cover a range of techniques and media, to increase their proficiency in the handling of different materials. Students learn to analyse and evaluate their own work, and that of others, in order to strengthen the visual impact or applications of their work. Throughout the curriculum we learn about the history of art, craft, design and architecture, including periods, styles and major movements from ancient times up to the present day. Students will develop their understanding of the visual language of art with effective teaching and carefully thought out sequences of lessons and experiences. Understanding of the visual elements of art and design (line, tone, texture, colour, pattern, shape, 3D form) will be developed by providing an accessible and engaging curriculum which will enable children to reach their full potential. Topics are taught on a termly basis and involve studying existing pieces of art, sketching aspects of these, with a particular focus on the necessary skills, before completing a final piece. Students will then be given constructive feedback and next steps, with further opportunities to create an art piece, to improve their work and ensure that the skills are being developed.  
Curriculum Enrichment 
At both KS3 and KS4 students have the opportunity to attend extra-curricular clubs on a weekly basis. This is an opportunity for students to extend their subject knowledge and gain new experiences outside of lesson time. Educational visits to Art Galleries and Museums are extremely valuable to experience artworks first hand. Our GCSE students will be offered the chance to experience a visit of this nature, to be inspired and bring new ideas back into the classroom to inform their creative ideas and develop their work further.