Our art curriculum is designed to nurture creativity, build technical skill and give every child the opportunity to explore, express and celebrate their ideas visually. We believe that all children are artists. Through a carefully sequenced progression of knowledge, skills and artist study, pupils develop confidence, curiosity and a deep appreciation of the creative world around them.

Art is taught weekly across the school, with projects that build over time. Our curriculum blends explicit teaching of artistic disciplines - drawing, painting, sculpture and printing - with opportunities to explore diverse artists, cultures and creative traditions. While many units complement learning in other curriculum subjects such as history and geography, we ensure that art retains a strong disciplinary identity and is valued in its own right.

What Children Learn

Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)

In the Early Years, children freely explore colour, texture and form through drawing, painting, collage and model‑making. They experiment with tools and materials, talk about their artwork and begin developing the confidence to express their own ideas, laying strong foundations for becoming creative, reflective artists.

Key Stage 1

In KS1, children learn to:

• Use a range of tools and materials confidently.
• Explore line, shape, colour and form.
• Mix colours and create repeating patterns.
• Build simple 3D models using malleable materials.
• Talk about famous artworks, noticing similarities and differences.

Artist connections include Yayoi Kusama, Kandinsky, Alma Thomas, Romero Britto and Barbara Hepworth, giving children early exposure to a diverse range of artistic styles and voices.

Key Stage 2

In KS2, pupils deepen their knowledge and build more sophisticated artistic techniques. They learn to:

• Use sketchbooks purposefully to explore ideas.
• Refine drawing skills using proportion, shading, perspective and composition.
• Mix increasingly complex colours, including tints, tones, shades and tertiary colours.
• Design and construct 3D forms using clay, card, wire and armatures.
• Create relief prints, layered prints and repeated patterns with controlled alignment.
• Analyse and evaluate artworks using subject‑specific vocabulary.

Across Years 3–6, children study a wide range of artists such as Hockney, Paul Cézanne, William Morris, Frida Kahlo, Giacometti, Faith Ringgold, Monet and many others, ensuring they encounter different cultures, media and artistic traditions. 

How Art Is Taught at Stoke St Gregory

A Rich, Structured Curriculum

Our long‑term plan ensures that pupils revisit key artistic disciplines at increasing levels of challenge. Over the two‑year cycle, each class studies:

• Drawing
• Painting
• Sculpture (3D form)
• Printing
  with clearly defined knowledge, skills and vocabulary that progress from Otters to Kingfishers to Ravens.

Artist Study Throughout

Every unit includes a strong artist focus, helping children understand:

• how artists work
• how art reflects culture, place and time
• how techniques and materials affect meaning
• how artists influence each other over time

Cross‑Curricular Links

Although art is taught as a subject in its own right, projects often deepen learning in other curriculum areas. For example:

• Pattern and printing linked to historical design movements
• Sculpture linked to local heritage (e.g., Coates family willow work)
• Drawing linked to natural forms in science or local landscapes in geography

These connections help children see the relevance of creativity across the curriculum.

Creativity, Expression and Celebration

Children at Stoke St Gregory enjoy frequent opportunities to share and celebrate their artwork, whether through:

• displays in classrooms and communal spaces
• sketchbook journeys
• whole‑school celebrations of learning