Art and Design
Art Intent Statement
“The main thing is to be moved, to love, to hope, to tremble, to live.”
Auguste Rodin
At Berkswell, we want our children to develop a deep curiosity, confidence and joy in expressing themselves through art. Our curriculum is rooted in love, togetherness and aspiration: love for creativity and self‑expression, togetherness through shared artistic experiences, and aspiration to achieve highly and believe in their own potential as young artists.
We aim to nurture pupils’ imagination while building the knowledge, skills and appreciation they need to understand the role of art in Britain and the wider world. Our ambition is for all pupils to gain a secure understanding of artistic techniques, materials and processes, and to ask thoughtful questions about how and why artists create. Through a coherent, well‑sequenced curriculum, children explore:
- Drawing, painting and sculpture
- Craft, design and a wide range of creative media
- The work of significant artists, designers and makers
- Art from different cultures, traditions and time periods
We want pupils to enjoy and love art through hands‑on exploration, high‑quality resources, classroom experiences and using the local environment to bring creativity to life and strengthen a sense of togetherness across the school.
Our curriculum is designed so that every child can achieve, belong and thrive. We are committed to ensuring full access and success for all learners, including pupils with SEND, disabilities, those who are disadvantaged, pupils with English as an additional language, more able learners, and children from all social, cultural and ethnic backgrounds. Inclusion is central to our approach because every child deserves to feel valued, represented and supported to reach their potential. Through adaptive teaching, reasonable adjustments, assistive technology and carefully chosen materials, we remove barriers so that all pupils can participate fully and make strong progress.
By exploring diverse artists, styles and creative traditions, pupils encounter both familiar and new perspectives, helping them feel included, represented and connected to the wider artistic world. High expectations, rich opportunities for experimentation, enquiry and reflection, and a focus on identity, belonging and aspiration enable pupils to develop secure artistic understanding and to thrive as confident, expressive young creators.
