We want to enable all pupils to think and act creatively through exploring all aspects of creativity, so that they can grow to appreciate and value the importance of art within our society.

At Oakridge Parochial School we believe that art is integral to the primary curriculum and helps our children to grow into risk takers and explorers through experimentation and innovation. It should be taught discretely but can also be a vehicle for other subjects through our cross-curricular approach to learning. This will involve exploring art for a variety of reasons, in a variety of contexts.

Our children will become skilled in oracy and thinking critically using the language of art proficiently, by evaluation and reflection.

We will have high expectations of our children in art and allow them to achieve their full creative potential by being given opportunities to be inspired by a range of great artists, craft makers and designers. They will be encouraged to take inspiration from the world around them.

Most importantly we want our children to see art as a journey in which they are engaged and having fun. They will build their understanding and skills through the manipulation of a variety of materials, from which they will be able to explore processes which can then be applied to concepts. All of which will be re-visited to build the layers in becoming a proficient artist. Creativity is a life skill that is transferable to many aspects of our lives and our children will become the next generation of innovative and entrepreneurial thinkers.

 As well as developing their own skills, the children learn about the arts and crafts of other cultures and from different periods in history, as well as studying the work of famous artists, architects and designers.

All children will be engaged in open-ended activities in the following subject areas: Drawing, Sketchbooks, Printmaking, Sculpture, Design, Painting, Craft, Textiles, Multimedia and Digital.

They will be given a wide range of materials with which they can explore their own creativity.

All lessons should be planned with the following in mind:

1. Traditional skills should be balanced with experimental work.

2. Small scale work should be balanced with large scale work.

3. Quiet reflective study should be balanced with active, dynamic work.

4. Individual work should be balanced with group work.

5. Two dimensional work should be balanced with three dimensional work.

6. How it feels to take creative risks as opposed to playing it safe.

7. That chaos and mess can be productive for some people.

8. Both female and male creative role models (including visits from artists/visits to galleries/artists studios).

At Oakridge we are adopting a long term progression (growth) plan written by artists for our future artists (children).

Click on the following link to view the Access My Art Progression Plan.

As a result of our approach to the teaching of art the children will have evolved and developed an individual style of which they are proud. They will be able to utilise their creative skills across the curriculum. They will be ready to continue on their journey of exploration and innovation with confidence.

They will be able to manipulate a variety of tools and materials but realise that there is always scope for more exploration of these in their own self-directed learning. They will have knowledge of the differing styles of past and present artists, craft makers and designers and what their work tells us. They will recognise the value of creativity both in a personal way, and the impact it has on communities and the wider world. They will be confident to talk about works of art and their own and other’s creations in a constructively critical way. They will be equipped with the skills and knowledge needed to continue their personal growth on their creative pathway in order to contribute to shaping their own future society.