Art teaching and learning

At Sevenoaks Primary creativity is valued and the children in all year groups enjoy Art lessons.  During lessons the children are supported to use their imagination, take risks and learn how to develop and improve their learning. Children are encouraged to explore a range of techniques and use a variety of materials.  Throughout the school a range of artwork is produced, for example Year 5 children explore printing and Year 6 pupils put their creative skills into play when they take part in a project to design their own carnival costume. Art is mostly taught through a topic based approach to learning and links with the Design and Technology curriculum, for example as a part of their Antarctica topic Year one children have just produced some wonderful penguin Art, including sketches in charcoal, penguin sculptures and a giant igloo made of milk bottles!

Art and the new curriculum

At SPS adjustments to teaching and learning have been made to ensure that the children are benefiting from the new Art curriculum.  In Foundation stage and KS1 the foundations are laid and the children are introduced to the visual language of art and to a set of core skills and principles, so that they are able to progress towards more sophisticated art work as they move up the school.  In line with the new curriculum sketch books have been introduced for key stage 2 children.  The children are being taught to use them as visual diaries to plan and develop their learning. 

Extra curriculum Art

At our weekly Art club the children are able to decide on their own Art projects.  They work individually or in groups and they are supported to explore their own ideas and learn new skills along the way.  The children’s talents and skills are celebrated and valued.  Whole school initiatives such as our successful Art competition encourage the children to be creative at home too.  The Art work produced is now displayed in frames throughout of school building.

Inspiring budding Artist

In lessons we provide opportunities for the children to be inspired by the work of current Artists, Artists from the past as well as the work of Architects and designers.  In addition to this we endeavour to bring the Art world to the children. We have been lucky enough to be involved in a range of projects which help the children to connect with real artists. Have a look at some pictures of the children below enjoying Art at our school.

If you have visited our school you would have the seen the giant tree in our reception area. This was designed and created by a group of children who took part in the INSPIRE art project last Year. The children attended a workshop with a number of other children from local schools where they created a magical paper forest. The children then decided they wanted to create a large sculpture of a tree for our school. The group spent the day with an Artist who helped them to bring their ideas into fruition which included learning how to create seven acorns from sheep’s wool.

We have a Meadow wall in the playground which was painted by the children alongside an artist.

 The children were inspired by real artists at a local secondary school who gave the children an inspiring interactive tour of their gallery.