Art & Design

“Every child is an artist.”
Pablo Picasso

At Cavendish Church of England Primary School, we believe that high-quality Art & Design education nurtures creativity, imagination and self-expression. Our Art curriculum is designed to inspire pupils to explore ideas, develop techniques and express their individuality, while building confidence and resilience through creative experimentation.

We follow the Kapow Primary Art & Design mixed-age curriculum, which provides a carefully sequenced and progressive approach aligned with the National Curriculum. The mixed-age curriculum is organised into Cycle A and Cycle B, ensuring full coverage while avoiding repetition and allowing pupils to revisit and refine key skills and knowledge with increasing depth as they move through the school.

Art learning enables pupils to develop practical skills across a range of disciplines, including drawing, painting, sculpture, printing and textiles. Pupils explore the work of artists, designers and craftspeople from different cultures and periods, developing an appreciation of creativity and artistic expression. They are encouraged to reflect on and evaluate their own work and that of others, using subject-specific vocabulary to support discussion and improvement.

In the Early Years Foundation Stage, children explore creativity through open-ended play and experimentation with materials, developing early skills in mark-making and design. In Key Stages 1 and 2, pupils build on these foundations by developing technical skills, increasing control and confidence, and applying their learning independently.

Teachers are supported by high-quality planning and teaching resources provided through Kapow Primary, ensuring consistency of delivery across mixed-age classes and supporting strong subject knowledge. Key vocabulary and techniques are explicitly taught and revisited. Pupil progress is monitored through observation, discussion and creative outcomes, which inform future teaching and ensure all pupils achieve well.

As a result of our Art & Design curriculum, pupils leave Cavendish with confidence in using a range of materials and techniques, the ability to express ideas creatively, and an appreciation of art in different forms and cultures.