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Art & Design + Design & Technology

Curriculum Rationale

Art and Design 

We believe that that art is a vital part of the education of all children. The child’s use and understanding of art needs to be developed by effective teaching and by a considered sequence of experiences. We aim to provide an art curriculum which will enable each child to reach their full potential in learning in art, through investigating and making, through research and the development of skills and through their evaluation of their own art and that made by famous artists. We use the Cornerstones curriculum to ensure coverage and progression.

Design and Technology

Design and technology is part of every child’s immediate experience. It is important that children are not only aware of what design and technology is, but also develop a practical approach to it. We use the Cornerstones curriculum to ensure coverage and progression. We ensure that children develop skills and knowledge of a wide range of materials and equipment through Focussed Practical Tasks in a safe and controlled environment. Their learning and discovery through these tasks then inform their own design accordingly.

Intent: Allowing children of all abilities to experiment with skills and materials to widen their knowledge and understanding of art and design.

Implementation: Children have opportunities to present their sense of vision through observation, experimentation and illustration.

Impact: The Art/DT curriculum has been designed to ensure that children get an immersive creative education.

Design and technology is an inspiring, rigorous and practical subject. Using creativity and imagination, pupils design and make products that solve real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts, considering their own and others’ needs, wants and values. They acquire a broad range of subject knowledge and draw on disciplines such as mathematics, science, engineering, computing and art. Pupils learn how to take risks, becoming resourceful, innovative, enterprising and capable citizens. Through the evaluation of past and present design and technology, they develop a critical understanding of its impact on daily life and the wider world. High-quality design and technology education makes an essential contribution to the creativity, culture, wealth and well-being of the nation.

Department of Education’s Statutory Guidance on the Design and Technology Curriculum