At Aston Rowant, Art & Design is a joyful, expressive and exploratory part of our curriculum. Grounded in our Christian vision - “Growing together, rooted in God, having fullness of life” (Col 2:1–7) - we believe every child is an artist, capable of creativity, imagination and personal expression.

We provide high-quality opportunities for children to develop artistic skills while celebrating individuality, cultural richness and the sheer enjoyment of creating.

Our Intent

Our Art curriculum aims to:

• Provide rich opportunities for drawing, painting, printing, sculpture, collage and digital art
• Promote creativity, imagination and confident self-expression
• Ensure pupils develop secure technical skills and art vocabulary
• Inspire appreciation for global art, artists and traditions
• Encourage thoughtful reflection and evaluation
• Offer inclusive access to Art & Design for all children

This aligns with the National Curriculum and our school ethos of nurturing creativity, curiosity and cultural understanding.

How We Teach Art (Implementation)

Online Scheme + Teacher Creativity

We follow a high-quality online Art curriculum scheme which teachers adapt and enrich to suit their class topics. This ensures:

• Clear progression
• Secure coverage
• Opportunities for exploration
• Freedom for teachers to build creative, imaginative units

Explorative, Creative Art

Our approach focuses on exploration:

• Every term begins with a drawing block
• Learning then moves into mixed media, allowing children to explore texture, form and colour
• Children are encouraged to experiment, solve problems and create unique outcomes
• Teachers use artist studies to inspire creativity rather than replicate one style

Pupil voice reflects this:

• “Shading made it look real.” -Year 3
• “Hundertwasser loves wiggly lines — so did I!” - Year 2
• “I put spots everywhere like Kusama!” - EYFS

Art and Design Technology

Art and DT share allocated curriculum time, ensuring balanced opportunities for creative and technical development.

Sketchbooks

Sketchbooks follow children throughout their time at school and are used to:

• Practise skills
• Record ideas
• Reflect on techniques
• Experiment freely

This demonstrates deep progression across year groups.

Leadership & Enrichment

• Our Year 5/6 Art Ambassadors support Mrs Olsen in displays, pupil voice and projects.
• We run a thriving Art Club offering additional opportunities for creativity and collaboration.

Impact: What Our Children Gain

Children at Aston Rowant:

• Develop secure artistic skills and techniques
• Build confidence in creativity and expression
• Understand a range of artists and cultural art traditions
• Reflect on their work thoughtfully
• Take pride in their creations
• Speak passionately about their art learning

This is evident in pupil reflections:

• “Art helps you relax and express yourself.” - Whole School
• “Everyone helped make the mural - that felt good.” - Year 3
• “We travelled the world in art!” - Whole School