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Art and Design
“Everything has its beauty, but not everyone sees it.”
Andy Warhol
Art, craft and design embody some of the highest forms of human creativity. A high-quality art and design education should engage, inspire and challenge pupils, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to experiment, invent and create their own works of art, craft and design. As pupils progress, they should be able to think critically and develop a more rigorous understanding of art and design. They should also know how art and design both reflect and shape our history, and contribute to the culture, creativity and wealth of our nation.
Intent
At St John’s, the intent of the Art and Design curriculum is to develop pupils’ creativity, confidence, and understanding of artistic knowledge and techniques through a carefully sequenced curriculum based on the National Curriculum and EYFS frameworks. The curriculum is structured around four core areas—Drawing, Painting and Mixed Media, Sculpture and 3D, and Craft and Design—ensuring progression in practical, theoretical, and disciplinary knowledge. Key knowledge and vocabulary (“Need to Knows”) are explicitly taught and revisited, with high expectations for all pupils and a commitment to equality of access. Through exposure to a diverse range of artists and artistic movements, pupils build cultural capital and a deeper appreciation of art’s role in expressing ideas and reflecting the world.
Implementation
Art is taught in structured, sequential units every other short term, with one stand-alone unit annually, following the Kapow scheme to ensure quality and teacher confidence. Lessons are practical, exploratory, and inclusive, with sketchbooks used to record ideas and progress. Each unit builds cumulatively towards a final creative outcome, integrating prior knowledge through retrieval practice and formative assessment. Teachers use modelled videos, targeted adaptations, and differentiation to ensure accessibility and challenge for all learners. The subject leader oversees curriculum continuity, supports professional development, audits resources, and ensures consistent assessment and high standards across the school.
Impact
The Art curriculum at St John’s enables pupils to leave primary school with confidence, creativity, and a secure foundation of skills, techniques, and knowledge to support their progression into Key Stage 3 and beyond. Pupil progress is assessed formatively through observation, discussion, and retrieval activities, focusing on both process and outcome rather than final products alone. Assessment emphasises what pupils have retained in long-term memory and their ability to apply skills independently. Evidence of progression is monitored through a central tracking system and pupil conferencing, ensuring that all pupils develop as reflective, skilful, and expressive young artists.
