Our vision for Art is: 

• For all children to learn and embed skills through the delivery of an inclusive, rich, broad and balanced curriculum. 

• For all children to be exposed to a diverse range of art and artists and for them to be able to express their feelings and own opinions about the creative work they explore, whilst learning cultural capital. 

• For children in the early years to understand their world by being able to choose and explore different artistic techniques which enhance their personal creativity and imagination.  

• For children to have enriching opportunities ranging from gallery visits, art clubs, art competitions and workshops. 

To achieve this, in line with the National Curriculum, we have developed a progressive art and design curriculum for the whole school which supports children in making cross-curricular links, learn about a diverse range of artists and offers opportunities for them to embed the skills they are learning. 

At South Camberley, art is taught mainly by a specialist art teacher who works across all three sites to provide consistency in the progression of skills and techniques. In designing our art curriculum, we support all learners to achieve their best, ensuring that lessons are adapted to meet individual needs.

The formal elements of art: line, colour, texture, tone, shape and space are described as the ingredients that make an artwork. At South Camberley, these formal elements are used when discussing art and making art. This becomes more integral at KS2. These formal elements provide a way for children to view not only

paintings and art, but also their own environment, and the language they learn can help them to interpret the visual world at large.

At South Camberley, from Early Years to Year 6, our art curriculum is knowledge rich. Most units of work offer children the opportunity to study at least one artist or designer. ‘Key artworks’ within these units provide a stimulus for discussion, as well as a point of inspiration for the practical part of lessons. Children can make both visual and verbal links between their art and the key artwork. Key artworks range from early woodblock prints to more contemporary pieces, by well-known and lesser-known artists and designers. In Year 2 for example, children learn about the abstract art of Paul Klee when they draw their own imaginary places; in Year 6, when learning about Britain at War we look at the work of the German Expressionist Franz Marc – a soldier in WW1 as well as the sculptor and painter Henry Moore. Key artworks also provide significant cross-curricular links, particularly in history and geography, enabling children to infer meaning, increase their vocabulary and gain cultural enrichment.

Opportunities to develop cultural experiences for our children are provided at each of our three sites through; Art Clubs run after school, visiting professional artists who provide workshops for the children and a visit to ‘The Watts Gallery’ in Compton, Surrey to further develop that sense of awe and wonder that being immersed in art can offer.

Art Intervention Groups are established for children with social and emotional needs who might need to build self-esteem and confidence, for example. In liaison with the SENDCo, our specialist art teacher (accrediated with Level 3 CPD in Art Therapy) gives allocated time to these weekly 1:1 and small group sessions, where children have opportunities to express themselves through art and craft-style activities. The artwork they produce may be designed to assist with the management of their emotions or may provide a means for children to express their feelings through art. As well as gaining artistic confidence, children benefit from developing an alternative tool to help express themselves creatively.

Our ‘Creative Arts Ambassadors’ (Art, Music and Drama) are selected each year via an application process from Upper Key Stage Two. Raising the profile of art across the school, their roles can include such things as creation of displays, designing and setting art competitions within the school, helping to prepare and run exhibitions of artworks, becoming ‘art teaching assistants’ alongside teachers in the classroom, organising and running fundraising events.

At South Camberley, we are passionate about children’s lives being enriched with memorable experiences. We hold fundraising events throughout the year to help support and action trips and activities. For example, in the Autumn Term children create Christmas card designs which can be printed and made into a variety of items that can be purchased by parents and carers for Christmas.

Exciting and interactive displays of our children’s passion for art and design is celebrated across our three campuses. Displays provide a wonderful celebration of work created as well as an opportunity for children to view artworks made by children in other year groups.

We hold various exhibitions for children to showcase their artworks; open afternoons for parents and carers to view sketchbooks and displays as well as a framed art gallery whole school event which takes place annually.

Each year, pupils can be awarded art certificates for ‘Endeavour’ or ‘Outstanding’ achievement which are presented by the Headteacher.

Art and design lessons provide opportunities for children to work in ways that differ from the other subject areas, in ways that support the development of well-rounded children. At South Camberley, our diverse and enriching curriculum ensures that children move on to secondary school equipped with an appreciation of various cultures, artistic styles and techniques and a greater cultural capital and reflective mind for art.

As Picasso once said, ‘every child is an artist’. If children are taught this from an early age, they will grow up with the confidence to use art as a form of expression. Thus, by the end of Year 6, learners will have had memorable experiences, developed more varied ways to express themselves and know how to apply the skills they have learnt on their journey throughout our primary school.