Art
At Northwood Park Primary, our Art curriculum is rooted in our core values:
Be Kind. Be Brave. Be Proud
At Northwood Park Primary, our Art curriculum is rooted in our core values: Be Kind, Be Brave, Be Proud. We strive to deliver a vibrant, ambitious, and inclusive Art curriculum that empowers every pupil to explore, experiment, and express their creativity. Through Art, children are encouraged to take risks, develop confidence in their ideas and take pride in their creations, fostering a lifelong appreciation of creativity and visual culture.
At Northwood Park, many pupils start school below national expectations, particularly in vocabulary, communication, and understanding of the wider world. The school community also includes a higher-than-average proportion of pupils eligible for Pupil Premium, as well as those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. The Art curriculum is thoughtfully designed to address these gaps, enrich cultural capital, and strengthen language development through structured, engaging, and inclusive learning experiences that enable every pupil to succeed.
Art at Northwood Park
Our Art curriculum is designed to be progressive, ensuring that pupils develop the knowledge, skills and understanding needed to become confident and reflective artists. Through carefully sequenced units, pupils explore a wide range of media including drawing, painting, sculpture, printing, collage and digital forms. They develop key artistic skills such as observation, pattern, texture, colour, form and composition, while also learning to evaluate and refine their work.
A key feature of our curriculum is its strong link to high-quality texts through our school-wide Golden Thread of reading. Each unit is thoughtfully connected to class texts, enabling pupils to draw inspiration from stories, characters, settings and themes. This approach not only deepens engagement but also supports the development of imagination, storytelling and meaning within artwork. Pupils explore themes such as identity, culture, history, emotion and environment, allowing them to make meaningful connections across subjects. Pupils engage with rich texts that inspire artistic outcomes, while also developing subject-specific vocabulary. Teachers explicitly model and reinforce language linked to techniques, processes and evaluation, enabling pupils to articulate their ideas clearly and confidently.
Our curriculum introduces pupils to a diverse range of artists, designers and cultures from across history and around the world. Pupils study influential figures such as Hans Holbein the Younger, Donald Judd and Edgar Degas, alongside exploring cultural art forms including Islamic geometric patterns, Ancient Greek pottery, Chinese art, and traditional crafts. This ensures pupils develop an understanding of art as a reflection of society, culture and history, while promoting respect and appreciation for diversity.
EYFS
In the Early Years Foundation Stage, Art is delivered through exploratory, play-based learning. Children experiment with a range of materials and tools, developing fine motor skills, creativity and self-expression. They begin to talk about their creations, building early language and confidence.
Key Stage 1
In Key Stage One, pupils build foundational skills by exploring a range of materials and techniques. They learn to draw, paint, print and construct using a variety of resources, while developing their ability to observe closely and represent what they see. Pupils begin to explore colour, pattern, texture and shape, often inspired by stories, nature and their own experiences. They are encouraged to talk about their work and the work of others, building confidence and vocabulary.
Key Stage 2
In Key Stage Two, pupils deepen and refine their artistic skills, developing greater control and independence. They explore more complex techniques such as perspective, composition, shading, sculpture and printmaking. Pupils study a wider range of artists and cultural influences, learning to analyse, interpret and evaluate artwork with increasing confidence. They are encouraged to take creative risks, develop their own style and use art as a way to communicate ideas, emotions and viewpoints.
Our Art curriculum places strong emphasis on process as well as outcome. Pupils use sketchbooks to experiment, practice and develop ideas over time. They are taught to reflect on their work, evaluate their choices and respond to feedback, fostering resilience and a growth mindset.
We enrich Art through cross-curricular links, gallery-style displays and opportunities to showcase work within the school community. Wherever possible, pupils engage with real-life contexts, including learning about local and global art, exploring cultural traditions and making connections to the world around them.
Through our Art curriculum, we intend that all pupils leave Northwood Park Primary as creative, confident and reflective individuals who are able to express themselves visually and think imaginatively. They will have developed a strong foundation of artistic skills, an appreciation of diverse cultures and a sense of pride in their achievements, enabling them to embody our values to Be Kind, Be Brave and Be Proud.
