Art  

At St Catherine’s, our Art curriculum aims to inspire creativity and imagination, curiosity, and cultural appreciation. We want every child to develop confidence in expressing themselves using a range of visual, tactile and sensory experiences.  We aim to encourage our children to understand and appreciate the value of art in society. 

• Child-Centered Approach: In EYFS, we respond to children’s interests and make full use of indoor and outdoor learning opportunities using a range of man made and natural materials.
• Progressive Skills: Across KS1 and KS2, pupils explore a wide range of media and techniques, including drawing, painting, sculpture, printing and collage.
• Class Artists: Each year group from Nursery to year 6 studies a chosen artist whose work inspires projects and discussions.
• Cross-Curricular Links: Art is integrated into subjects such as Religion, History, science, and maths to deepen understanding and creativity.
• National Curriculum Alignment: Our curriculum meets statutory requirements, ensuring progression in:

Creativity and experimentation

Technical skills and knowledge of materials

Critical thinking and evaluation

Understanding of great artists, designers, and craft makers

Art in EYFS

In the Early years we want our children to develop artistic and cultural awareness. We provide opportunities both inside and outside for the children to explore and play with a wide range of media and materials. We value the process over the product, encouraging exploration, experimentation and creativity.  Through child initiated and adult led activities the children have the opportunity to experiment with different tools, textures, colours and techniques. Activities include painting, drawing, sculpture, collage and printing.

Art in KS1

In key stage 1 we aim to give children opportunities to explore ideas and feelings through drawing, painting, and making. We want children to understand that art is a way to communicate and express themselves. The children are taught to build on basic skills and are introduced to simple techniques like mixing primary and secondary, use different tools, and experiment with textures. Fine motor skills are developed through cutting, sticking, and shaping materials. Children are taught to look closely at objects, nature, and artworks. Art vocabulary such as shape, colour, pattern and colour is modelled and encouraged. In this stage children are encouraged to talk about their work and the work of others in simple terms. As with all subjects at St Catherine’s we want to promote enjoyment of art and to develop children’s confidence to be artists, feel proud of their work, develop resilience and realise that making mistakes can lead to new ideas.

Art in KS2

At St Catherine’s we believe art is a vital part of every child’s education. Through art, children develop creativity, confidence, and cultural understanding. We aim to   ensure that every child to build on knowledge, skills, techniques and vocabulary learnt in previous years.

Our junior children will continue to:

• Explore and Experiment with a wide range of materials and techniques, building practical skills and imaginative thinking.
• Express Ideas and Emotions through art as a powerful form of communication.
• Appreciates Art and Artists from diverse cultures and time periods, understanding art’s role in society and history.
• Reflect and Improve by evaluating their own work and that of others, fostering resilience and pride in progress.
• Celebrates Individuality, recognising that every child’s artistic journey is unique.

We aim to inspire a lifelong love of creativity and equip pupils with skills that extend beyond the classroom—such as problem-solving, critical thinking, and self-expression.

Art Gallery