Art

Creativity is about inventing, taking risks, making mistakes and most importantly having fun. At Westgate Hill the ‘Create’, strand of our BRAVE curriculum gives children opportunities to express themselves through art alongside music, Design and Technology. 

Our Art curriculum has clear, progressive threads across all elements from EYFS to KS2 and contains a focus on the work of architects and designers. Art in school is supported by the Access Art Primary Art Curriculum, which teachers adapt in order to encourage children to develop their creativity and imagination. They will learn about the artwork of great artists and crafts people and know how art and design reflects and shapes our history as well as contributing to the culture and creativity of our nation. The ‘Create’ theme supports pupils in exploring their creativity and talent and so increases their self-confidence, creativity and a sense of achievement. 

At Westgate Hill Primary Academy creativity is encouraged from the very beginning of our children’s school experience. In EYFS, children study Art through the overarching concept, 'Expressive arts and design'. By giving children a range of experiences, we aim to help them develop and support their imagination and creativity. Every morning, children share ‘Morning News’, where teachers model drawing skills and encourage children to create their own pictures based on their personal experiences. Children have weekly ‘Drawing Club’ sessions, where teachers model their thought process when drawing pictures and encourage children to draw their own pictures based on a range of different stories and themes. Children are given regular opportunities to increase their knowledge and understanding of various artistic concepts through child led experiences, such as exploring our always evolving ‘creative areas’ and using natural resources outside. 

In Key Stage one and two the art curriculum is taught as a stand-alone lesson. Every year each child starts their art journey developing key skills in drawing and painting. Following on from this they have opportunities to learn and become proficient within:  

• 3D forms (sculpture and clay work) 

• Collage 

• Printing 

Threaded throughout these strands is the knowledge of art theory and technical vocabulary which become progressively more complex as the children move through school. Art warm-ups are encouraged at the start of a lesson to enable the children to share their views and opinions on certain aspects of art and also to revisit learning from previous units. 

In KS1, all children are given their own sketchbook which moves up with them to the next Key Stage. Children are encouraged to investigate and use a variety of mediums as well as suggest ways of improving their own work. They explore a wide variety of tools and materials learning how to make marks and forms. Children will also explore specific areas of art and communicate their ideas and experiences. They will be supported to make comments on similarities and differences between their own and the work of others.  

In KS2, children refine their practical skills developed in KS1, further exploring shape, form, and space while experimenting with colour, pattern, and texture. The children deepen their ability to communicate, compare, and critique both their own artwork and that of others. Through this, they develop an understanding of how art is interpreted, how it conveys meaning and emotion, and how it serves as a powerful medium for self-expression. As they engage in evaluation and discussion, KS2 children gain further insight into the techniques and approaches used by artists, allowing them to connect artistic methods to the purpose of an artwork. This process encourages them to be more intentional in their creative choices, refining their ability to manipulate visual and tactile materials with greater precision and purpose. Beyond practical skill development, KS2 children expand their theoretical knowledge through in-depth artist studies. They explore how artistic styles and movements such as impressionism, modernism, and contemporary art can reflect broader themes and cultural shifts. By examining how artists have drawn inspiration from one another, children gain a deeper appreciation of the role of experimentation and innovation in shaping artistic change and development over time. This fosters an awareness of the lasting influence of art, inspiring them to see creativity as a continuous process.