Why do we teach Art? Why do we teach Art in the way we do?	How do we teach Art? What does this look like?
By the time children leave our school what will they be able to do?	Web links

At Holy Cross Catholic Primary School, we value Art as an important part of the children’s entitlement to a broad and balanced curriculum. Art provides the children with the opportunities to develop and extend skills and an opportunity to express their individual interests, thoughts and ideas.

Art embodies 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. 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 both reflects and shapes our history, and contributes to the culture, creativity and wealth of our nation.


Our Art curriculum has been designed to cover all of the skills set out in the EYFS Framework and National Curriculum. The National Curriculum states that ‘pupils should be taught to develop their techniques, including their control and their use of materials, with creativity, experimentation and an increasing awareness of different kinds of art, craft and design.’ Holy Cross’ curriculum has been structured in a cross-curricular way to effectively facilitate this and to provide maximum inspiration to our children. Art is commonly linked to a year group topic to enhance the pupils’ understanding of the key historical or geographical concepts covered. Where appropriate, these lessons may also be linked to a community or cultural issue to engage our artists in the world around them and to help them understand the role that they play as an individual. For example, in Year 5 the children study the history of Benin and link this to the Benin Bronzes. They ask questions about their origin, whether they should be returned and create artwork linked to them.

In EYFS the children have daily access to a variety of media and materials which they can explore to produce their own creative work. Provision is carefully planned to suit the interests of the children, whilst developing the necessary skills they are working on. Through on-going observations of the children, the adults have an in-depth knowledge about each child’s development. This ensures that the adults facilitating learning know each child’s next steps and can give the children the learning opportunity and experience they need to develop their skills in art. We place high importance on EYFS, as we know this provides the fundamental base for all learning. It is then in KS1, where the fundamental skills are developed and we look for any gaps in the children’s skills, so that we can close any gaps at an earlier stage. By upper KS2, we aim for the children to use all the skills and knowledge that has been built upon year after year, to apply it to a variety of media and materials.

Throughout the school, children are given the opportunity to study national and international artists to explore and celebrate their work and also enhance their learning. Key vocabulary is reviewed and built upon at the start of every module. This is to ensure that the children are familiar with the technical vocabulary that is linked to their unit of Art.

In KS1 and KS2, the children’s work is presented in a class floor book. As well as this, art is promoted throughout our school through a variety of platforms. We hold after art competitions and take pride in displaying the children’s artwork around the school.


By the end of each Key Stage, all children can apply and understand the skills, knowledge and processes they have been taught so that they are proficient in drawing, painting, sculpture and other art, craft, and design techniques.

The children have a clear enjoyment and confidence in Art that they can apply to other areas of the curriculum.

Most importantly, children will leave Holy Cross knowing that it is okay to make mistakes along their journey, they will think for themselves and be critical about their own and other’s work- knowing how they can improve it or knowing when to stop if they are satisfied with their creative work.

As artists children will develop skills and attributes they can use beyond school and into adulthood.


The Artful Parent
Over 500 arts and crafts activities, including painting, sculptures and printmaking.

Art for Kids hub
You can watch step by step videos on how to draw different things, origami for children, how to paint, holiday and celebratory art projects and projects related to the Seasons.

Land Art for Kids
A website which gives you ideas on how to collect natural resources to produce different forms of Art.

Tate Kids-The Best Art Website for Kids
Kids can follow instructions to make different things, play art games and quizzes and explore and read about the work of well-known artists.

BBC Bitesize Art and Design
KS1 Art and Design - BBC Teach
KS2 Art and Design - BBC Teach
You can watch class clips on famous artists, techniques and how to create different things.