In line with the National Curriculum, we have adopted the primary curriculum set out by AccessArt (a charity founded by graduates of the Royal College of Art Sculpture School). The children complete six topic ‘pathways’ per year, each one corresponding to one of five key areas of focus:

• Drawing and Sketchbooks
• Print, Colour, Collage
• Working in Three Dimensions
• Paint, Surface, Texture
• Collaboration and Community

Sketchbooks and drawing are fundamental to each pathway. Children use their own artist’s sketchbook as a place to record visual notes and inspiration as well as create and develop ideas.

We examine and discuss the work of contemporary working artists as well as masters such as Degas, Matisse and Picasso, to name just a few. These provide us with inspirational starting points and lead us off in many exciting directions.

We aim to teach Art by embracing a sense of exploration. Teachers undertake the journey with the pupils, modelling exploration – investigating, discovering and sharing the learning. We believe this is the right approach for visual art since it is the way many artists themselves work. Artists generally do not know what it is they are going to discover or create through their work. Instead, they are open. They explore. What might happen if?...

Art is unique and subjective and in order to truly enable creativity at Edge Hill, we take a mindful approach to assessment and progression. We use photographs and post-it notes to keep records of outcomes and all children’s work and progress within the subject is given due value.

Each pathway allows children a variety of opportunities to evaluate and critique their own work as well as the work of others. Art work is celebrated in school both in ‘pop-up’ gallery-style exhibitions and longer-lasting displays. We also aim to take part in local Arts competitions, giving children the chance for their work to be recognised in the wider community.