Art & Design Technology
Art & Design Technology
As part of our school-designed units of study, we focus on specific art skills, art pieces and artists during each term. For Design and Technology, we weave the skills of designing, planning and evaluating into the themes which build from year to year.
Our approach
Through our bespoke thematic curriculum, children study key artworks and key artists, studying art history and developing their skills in:
- Collage
- Drawing
- Sculpture
- Paint
For example, in the unit of study ‘The Victorians’, children look at the key art piece ‘Coming Out of School’ by L.S. Lowry and identify why he chose his subject matter at that time. In the unit ‘World War II’, Year 6 pupils study form, perspective and tone in Henry Moore’s work. Our art curriculum has been carefully crafted to encourage our children to not only develop art skills but their ability to talk about art.
Through our art curriculum, pupils enhance their schema of knowledge before developing their art skills when creating their own pieces of art. We teach specific art skills and encourage the children’s critical analysis of art pieces: their likes, dislikes, their use of language to discuss tonality, use of colour and impressions that art gives them. We ensure a broad range of artists are studied, from Henri Matisse to Freda Kahlo. We instil a love of art in all its forms by using sketch books, right from Year 1, so that pupils can see their skills developing from year to year. We take full advantage of being based in central London and weave art trips and visitors into our curriculum offer, exposure to an Artist in Residence.
For more information, please see year group overviews to find out about the key artists and art pieces the children will be exposed to whilst at De Beauvoir.
