Art and Design
In the Nidd Wharfe Federation, we believe that high-quality Art lessons inspire children to think creatively, work imaginatively and develop strong procedural understanding. Our Art curriculum offers opportunities to explore a wide range of media and materials. Children learn and refine skills in drawing, painting, printing, collage, textiles, 3D work and digital art, and are encouraged to explore and evaluate a variety of creative ideas.
Throughout their learning, pupils are introduced to a diverse range of artists and artistic styles, developing a rich vocabulary and understanding of artistic techniques. These skills are applied across the curriculum, enabling children to deepen their knowledge in other subject areas through creative expression.
Art plays an important role in children’s personal development, promoting creativity, independence, judgement and self-reflection. It also supports our school values, encouraging pupils to take pride in their work. All artwork is purposeful - whether expressing ideas or exploring different artistic influences. Children are supported to understand expected outcomes, evaluate their work meaningfully and continuously, and reflect on how they can improve. They are encouraged to take risks, experiment and explore why certain ideas or techniques succeed within a project.
Teachers plan Art carefully using the objectives from our progression map, which guides the creation of medium-term plans. This ensures a clear progression of skills and knowledge across year groups. Each class celebrates pupils’ artwork through thoughtful and creative displays.
Children experience Art either through weekly lessons or through focused blocks of learning. Every term, pupils complete a unit that allows sufficient time to become fluent in the knowledge and skills required to create a final piece. Sketchbooks play a vital role in this process: pupils in Years 1–6 use individual sketchbooks to explore ideas, practise techniques and annotate their developing thinking.
Key Objectives (intent) from the 2014 National Curriculum
- Produce creative work, exploring ideas and recording experiences
- Become proficient in drawing, painting, sculpture and other techniques
- Evaluate and analyse creative works
- Know about great artists, craft makers and designers
- Understand the historical and cultural development of art forms
Design and Technology
Design and Technology is a practical, inspiring and rigorous subject. In the Nidd Wharfe Federation, we encourage children to use creativity and imagination to research, design and make purposeful products within a variety of contexts, considering their own and others’ needs, wants and values. Wherever possible, Design and Technology is linked to mathematics, science and topic learning, supporting pupils’ understanding of mechanisms, structures, textiles, and food and nutrition.
Within broader curriculum themes, pupils investigate existing products, explore material properties and consider how products are constructed and designed for appeal and function. They then develop their own design criteria, which guide the planning and creation of their product.
We believe Design Technology is most effective when learning has a clear purpose. While highly practical, strong emphasis is placed on producing realistic, feasible designs that consider dimensions, materials and function. In KS1 and KS2, this process is supported through structured DT booklets, which form a Design and Technology portfolio and show progression over time.
Evaluation is a key component of high-quality DT. Children regularly evaluate their work, the work of their peers and existing commercial products. These skills are developed verbally in Foundation Stage and become increasingly formalised as pupils move through school.
In addition to hands-on skills, DT also promotes teamwork, communication, careful material selection, resilience and the ability to reflect and improve - important life skills that support pupils across the curriculum.
Children experience Design and Technology either through weekly lessons (6–7 per term) or through carefully planned blocks of learning. Each term, pupils complete a DT unit, ensuring they have the time needed to develop their knowledge and apply skills effectively
