Here, at Withington Primary School, we value and are dedicated to the teaching of Art and Design. We see this as a fundamental part of school life. We are committed to providing an ‘Arts Rich Curriculum’ for our children. We believe that by developing this, we can contribute to the quality of our children’s lives, both within and beyond school. We see art and design as a means to support learning in a range of ways. The skills that are developed in these subjects can be transferred across the curriculum and thus aid learning.

As a school and in accordance with the National Curriculum’s expectations, we aim to ensure that all pupils:

1. Produce creative work, exploring their ideas and recording their experiences

2. Become proficient in drawing painting, sculpture and other art, craft and design techniques

3. Evaluate and analyse creative works using the language of art, craft and design.

4. Know about great artists, craft makers and designers, and understand the historical and cultural development of their art forms

Class teachers are responsible for teaching art and design, although there will be times when professional artists/helpers will be involved in the teaching of the topic. We take every opportunity to develop links with outside agencies and experts, including the local college, in order to enrich our Art and Design provision.

Our children enjoy the self-expression that they experience in both Art and Design. They are always keen to learn new skills and work hard to perfect those shown to them. The children’s art is very often cross-curricular, and helps them to express feelings and emotions in art, as well as show their knowledge and understanding in history, geography and science.