At St Adrian’s Primary School, we recognise the importance of Art and Design within our curriculum as it permits curiosity, creativity and self–expression to develop alongside resilience and confidence. We prioritise the development and progression of artistic skills, using the topics as a vehicle in which the children can gain confidence mastering each skill. In each year as the children move through the school, there is a clear progression of these skills, which build on prior learning.
Within our skill-based curriculum, the children are encouraged to become critical thinkers through making observations, and discussing ideas and plans for their own work. They have the opportunity to invent, create and express themselves using different mediums whilst also exploring artistic styles and taking inspiration from a wide range of art and artists, including those from different periods and cultures. Each pupil keeps their own sketchbook which is used as a space for the children to explore and develop their ideas through sketching as well as evaluating finished ideas.
Key documents
Topics at a glance
| Autumn | Spring | Summer | ||
| Year 1 |  Self portraits |  The dark, dark wood |  Amazing natural sculptures | |
| Year 2 |  Colour study Wassily Kandinski |  Design a hat Philip Treacy |  Plants and growing Angie Lewin | |
| Year 3 |  Mother nature Georgia O’Keeffe |  Pop art |  Death masks | |
| Year 4 |  Greek Pottery |  Victorians – William Morris |  Henry Rousseaus -Landscapes | |
| Year 5 |  Viking patterns |  Giuseppe Arcimboldo – Fruit portrait |  Little Dancer – Edgar Degas | |
| Year 6 |  Botanical art |  Human – fine art Michelangelo |  Cubism |