“Art is not just a subject to learn, but an activity that you can practice with your hands, your eyes, your whole personality.” Quentin Blake

At St James’ we aim to teach art and design that engages, inspires, and challenges all pupils whilst stimulating their creativity, imagination, and inventiveness. We believe that art and design gives our pupils the skills, concepts, and knowledge necessary for them to express responses to ideas and experiences. Art and design allows children to record their imagination and ideas. We encourage children to express themselves through their artwork as well as show their visual thinking, which in turn helps children learn other subjects. Children are allowed time to develop a range of skills such as observing, which help children become aware of the world around them. All children should have a love for art and design. Children will be allowed time to reflect, share and show love and respect for their peers’ work in a safe environment.

We use sketchbooks to record experience and imagination, to help the children develop their ideas and to show progression in their artistic ability. We encourage children to work on their own and collaborate with others on projects in two and three dimensions and on small and large scales.

Art and design should enable children to communicate what they see, feel, and think. Children should experiment with their ideas, their use of colour, texture, form, pattern and varied materials and processes. Self-evaluation of work is encouraged and children are taught how to be resilient to achieve their goals.