Art

“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist when we grow up.” – Pablo Picasso

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.

Our aim at St. Leonard’s is to develop and encourage pupils’ natural creativity so that they can become confident and enthusiastic artists. Through our curriculum, we aim to expose pupils to a wide range of artists and designers who work with various media. Pupils are given the opportunity to develop and enhance their skills through discrete art lessons, as well as through cross-curricular and project work. The art and design curriculum at St. Leonard’s enables children to explore: painting, watercolour, clay work, drawing, printing, model making, animation, photography, film making and collage. Each child has a sketchbook which they add to during their time at St. Leonard’s that documents the progression of their drawing skills.

Pupils also take part in school wide art events, such as ‘Art Week’ which takes place at the beginning of the spring term. During ‘Art Week’, pupils work collaboratively to produce a final piece, along with a range of supporting work. This work is then exhibited and pupils, parents and staff are invited to visit the school’s temporary art gallery. This allows pupils’ creativity to be showcased and appreciated on a whole school level.

Here are some pictures from our focused Art Week!