St George's Church of England School, Bourton

Being an Artist

At St George’s, we understand that art is an area where pupils can understand and enjoy by developing an appreciation of the world around us. We believe that the teaching of art should be through practical exploration where children can develop a flare for the subject and an understanding of the work of artists, architects, sculptors and painters. By allowing children to develop their own flare for the subject, we are creating independent learners who can make decisions for themselves based on their own likes and dislikes. We want our pupils to be confident in saying their opinions in a respectful and well-thought out manner.


Art, craft and design embody some of the highest forms of human creativity. A high-quality art and design education should engage, inspire and challenge pupils, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to experiment, invent and create their own works of art, craft and design. As pupils progress, they should be able to think critically and develop a more rigorous understanding of art and design. They should also know how art and design both reflect and shape our history, and contribute to the culture, creativity and wealth of our nation.

The pupils at St George’s are motivated to question, form opinions and offer peer support as they focus on art from various periods of history including significant artists, architects, sculptors and painters from all around the world.

The objectives for art in KS1 and KS2 are clearly set out for each year group in the National Curriculum:

Key Stage 1:


Pupils should be taught about:

  • A range of materials creatively to design and make products
  • T use drawing, painting and sculpture to develop and share their ideas, experiences and imagination
  • To develop a wide range of art and design techniques in using colour, pattern, texture, line, shape, form and space
  • To know about the work of a range of artists, craft makers and designers, describing the differences and similarities between different practices and disciplines, and making links to their own work.


Key Stage 2:


Pupils should be taught about:

  • To create sketch books to record their observations and use them to review and revisit ideas
  • To improve their mastery of art and design techniques, including drawing, painting and sculpture with a range of materials
  • To know about great artists, architects and designers in history.


Early Years Foundation Stage


We teach expressive art and design in EYFS as an integral part of the enquiry questions covered during the year. We relate the artistic side of the objectives set out in the Early Learning Goals (ELG’s) which underpin the curriculum planning for children aged 3 to 5. Art makes a significant contribution to expressing the world through activities such as discussing how art makes them feel, and from having hands on experiences with a range of media such as paint, colour and materials.