Art & Design at Harper Bell
At Harper Bell, we believe that Art and Design is a vital part of a broad and balanced curriculum. It allows children to express themselves creatively, develop confidence and explore the world around them in meaningful and imaginative ways. Through art, pupils learn to communicate ideas, reflect on their experiences and develop an appreciation of creativity across different cultures and time periods.
Our Intent
Our Art curriculum is designed so that pupils:
- Develop a love of and appreciation for art
- Are given meaningful opportunities to express creativity, learn new skills and refine existing ones
- Reflect on a wide range of artwork and feel confident to share their thoughts, ideas and questions
- Learn about cultural and historical art movements that are relevant to the society we live in
- Explore important and topical issues, such as pollution or discrimination, through artistic expression
Through these experiences, children develop creativity, independence and an understanding of how art can reflect and influence the world.
Implementation - How We Teach Art
Art is taught progressively across the school, beginning in the Early Years, where children develop early art skills alongside fine motor control. As pupils move through the school, their skills, knowledge and confidence are built upon year by year.
We use the Kapow Primary Art scheme of work, which ensures:
- Skills and knowledge are revisited and built upon over time
- Clear progression, allowing pupils to tackle more complex tasks with increasing confidence and accuracy
- Learning is taught in carefully planned blocks, linked to each year group's themes, giving context and purpose to artistic work
Pupils actively engage in a wide range of artistic techniques, materials and styles, developing both creativity and technical skill.
Celebrating Art and Creativity
We value and celebrate artistic achievement at Harper Bell. Children's work is showcased through:
- The clear progression of skills within individual sketchbooks
- Displays in classrooms and shared spaces across the school
This helps pupils feel proud of their work and recognise the value of creativity within our school community.
Art and Faith
Our approach to Art reflects the biblical teaching that creativity is a gift from God. As it says in Exodus 35:35:
"He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as engravers, designers, embroiderers and weavers."
This reminds us that creativity, imagination and skill are to be nurtured and celebrated, helping children to see art as both a form of expression and a way of appreciating God's creation.