Art

At Bywell Junior School, we recognise that Art stimulates creativity and imagination and understand that Art should be inclusive and accessible for all. We will encourage children to explore ideas and meanings through the work of a range of artists and designers. Art at Bywell instils an appreciation and enjoyment of the visual arts.  Art and design stimulates imagination and creativity; involving children in a range of visual, tactile and sensory experiences, which enable children to communicate what they see, think and feel through the use of the elements of colour, texture, form and pattern. Children will develop endurance and show compassion in regards to each other’s work and their own efforts. This will promote self-esteem and positive mindsets within the school.

This year we intended to raise and maintain the profile of Art within school, participate in more local Art opportunities to promote the home/school links that are created within the school environment.

We have developed the delivery of the Art teaching through the use of KAPOW which is used in over 5,800 schools. We have selected units that show progression in the key skills. It encourages diverse outcomes by inspiring creativity through expert demo videos and content, allowing pupils to express ideas and explore global art and artists.

Units of lessons are sequential, allowing children to build their skills and knowledge, applying them to a range of outcomes. The formal elements, a key part of the National Curriculum, are also woven throughout units. Key skills are revisited again and again with increasing complexity in a spiral curriculum model. This allows pupils to revise and build on their previous learning.

All students will be encouraged to develop their skills and promote a love of a subject that students feel empowered to continue as they move into Key Stage 2.

• Art is taught weekly by the class teacher 1 x 1 hour lesson. This is for a half term and then is swapped with DT.
• Have an overview of all the art topics taught, artists covered and skills progression throughout the school.
• It is important that overviews and guidance is available for the teachers at Bywell so they can deliver the lessons.
• Children should have an opportunity to respond and self-evaluate their own work and that of others.
• Looking at planning to ensure progression is clear and offer support and guidance where needed. This also includes undertaking book scrutinies and book celebrations to share good practice and to provide support where needed.
• To involve school with Art in the community, working with other schools and organizations whilst also including parents.
• Organising opportunities to showcase children’s artwork and celebrate their sketchbooks.
• Each year group will have three units of Art over the year.

July 2025 Review

• Work from the entrance displays showcases high quality Art work from the second topic of each year group.
• Art sketchbooks reviewed before the Easter holidays to ensure the first topic of each year matches planning, that there is a mixture of practical and discussion work including the key words. Most work is presented to a good standard with all work dated, Lesson Objectives written and work checked by teachers.
• Units of work continue to be reviewed by staff to ensure the units are up to date.
• KAPOW membership renewed for another year.
• Art clubs delivered after school by Art lead.
• Pupil voice indicated that children are enjoying their Art lessons and they enjoy using the different techniques they are taught.

• Children need to be explicitly taught how to use a sketchbook.
• Offer CPD opportunities to enhance staff’s knowledge on how to effectively use sketchbooks.
• Revise the Curriculum Overview for Year 3, 4, 5 and 6 to establish which units will be taught in which year group, with an increased focus on progression and developing skills.
• Complete staff questionnaire to find out if staff feel that KAPOW is still an effective tool and they are comfortable using this to support the delivery.

• New subject lead for Art and DT this academic year.
• Art and DT are taught by class teachers for one and half hours per week.
• The order of Art and DT topics have been reviewed in line with Kapow’s updates.
• Year 4 have begun a year-long projects with Creative Unity: Kirklees Schools Linking Network 2025 – 26. The project encourages and supports pupils to explore identity, be comfortable with difference, promote equality and community in safe environments, through creativity and art. The project will explore 4 questions: Who am I? Who are we? Where do we live? How do we all live well together.  Curriculum lead attended a CPD session on 17^th October and linked with staff from 3 other schools (Scisset, Slathwaite and Upperthong). Classes have shared and exchanged work and will continue to do so throughout the year, there will be an online meeting over teams and classes will meet up in a neutral venue in Huddersfield.
• Blossom created poppies to display around school, to commemorate Remembrance Day at Bywell.
• Displays have been updated in the corridors to reflect Autumn learning.
• A letter has been sent home to encourage children to create angels for a community project to put on display in Batley Parish Church.

• All year groups have accessed the planned curriculum units (despite the subject leader being absent from school)
• Children have experienced broader aspects of art – including photography which has enriched their understanding of Art as a discipline. Photographs taken by children of the natural school environment have increased appreciation of the importance of looking after it.
• The standard of work produced by children is high quality relative to individual starting points.
• Pupil Voice indicates children enjoy their Art lessons.