Good Practice Case Study

Ickleford Primary School

School No: 58

Excellence in Art & Design

Take a moment and just think about art!

•  How do you feel when you see a painting by Lucien Freud?

•  What do you think when studying a print by Whistler?

•  Why is the 'Angel of the North' so beautiful?

At Ickleford School we think that investigating and exploring Art & Design, and in particular asking challenging questions about it, is an important area of every child's education and personal development.

Year 6 Winter Landscapes	Year 1 Mothering Sunday Monets	Year 5 Decorated papier mache containers

 

Why is Art & Design important?

Understanding our own responses to visual works allows us to become creative and explore new ideas. It provo kes reactions and fuels the imagination.

Year 2 A painted study of a dragonfly	Year 4 3D environmental sculptures based on work by Andy Goldworthy	Year 3 A mixed media collage based on exotic fruits

Children at our school value the role Art and Design plays in their lives and consequently achieve well in their own artistic endeavours.

We actively support them in their learning and have achieved an Arts Mark Gold Award in the process.

Over the past few years we have worked towards:

• A well organised scheme of work which incorporates a wide range of artists, cultures, art movements, stimuli and materials.
• A high level of staff expertise, confidence and enthusiasm - developed through training courses and inset days.
• Effective use of our skilled Teaching Assistants to support learning in small group work.
• Inviting valuable contributions made through parental support/art practitioners.
• Collecting a range of high quality visual, theory and practical resources.
• Differentiated learning, enabling children of all abilities to have access to a creative curriculum.
• Celebrating all levels of ability through creative and vibrant displays which present a careful range of children's work.
• Extending learning opportunities through educational visits and after school clubs.

These key elements have come together successfully, with our children producing high quality works of art which we, and they, are immensely proud of!

Year 1 Detailed studies of winter cabbages	Reception Class Kandinsky circular painting.

OFSTED REPORT October 2004.

"Teachers' high expectations of good quality result in high standards."