Art and Design

Art is a highly valued subject at Cathedral School. Children are enthusiastic and proud of the Art work which they produce and this is reflected in the outstanding displays throughout the school, showcasing the level of skill from children.

Art is celebrated every year with ‘Arts Week’, where teachers focus on a particular skill or artist and teaching throughout the week is dedicated to the subject. Previous successful themes have included ‘Landscapes’ and ‘Colourful London’ and evidence of work produced from these weeks can be found on class blogs.

Displays around the school look vibrant and colourful and the high expectations from both children and staff ensure that work is produced to a great standard. Children are very enthusiastic in the school and have thoroughly enjoyed our Arts Week theme this year of ‘Landscapes’, using the opportunity to show off their artistic skills and broaden their creativity.

We are very proud of the Artsmark Gold award which we received this year, where the panel commented on the ‘inclusive and engaging approaches that have been taken to developing arts across the school, providing a focus and opportunity for pupils, teachers, the senior management team, governors and parents to work together.’ We are one of the few schools in the country to have achieved this award four times consecutively.

Staff at Cathedral School make a conscious effort to educate children on the importance of Art and incorporate this subject into other areas of the curriculum such as RE, where children produced excellent displays linked to our school motto ‘Life in all its Fullness’.

 

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.

Aims

The national curriculum for art and design aims to ensure that all pupils:

  • produce creative work, exploring their ideas and recording their experiences
  • become proficient in drawing, painting, sculpture and other art, craft and design techniques
  • evaluate and analyse creative works using the language of art, craft and design
  • know about great artists, craft makers and designers, and understand the historical and cultural development of their art forms.