At Milton Abbot School, our Art and Design curriculum inspires children to become creative thinkers, makers and designers. Through exploring the work of artists, craftspeople and designers from different periods, cultures and traditions, pupils develop an appreciation of creativity and the impact that art and design have on the world around them.

Children learn to communicate ideas, observations and emotions through a range of artistic disciplines including drawing, painting, sculpture, printing, textiles and digital media. Alongside this, they develop their skills as designers by investigating, planning, creating and evaluating their own work. We encourage pupils to experiment, take creative risks and understand that great ideas often develop through exploration and refinement.

Our curriculum helps children to:

• Develop practical skills in drawing, painting, sculpture and design.
• Explore a wide range of materials, techniques and processes.
• Investigate the work of significant artists, craftspeople and designers.
• Generate, develop and communicate creative ideas.
• Evaluate and improve their work through reflection and discussion.
• Understand how art and design influence culture, innovation and everyday life.

Our school values are at the heart of Art and Design:

Mindfulness

Art and Design encourages children to observe closely, appreciate beauty and pay attention to detail. Through sketching, designing and creating, pupils learn to focus their attention, reflect on their ideas and develop an awareness of the world around them. Creative activities provide opportunities for self-expression, calm reflection and thoughtful exploration.

Ambition

Children are challenged to think creatively and aim high in their artistic and design work. By studying the achievements of artists, architects, inventors and designers, pupils are inspired to develop their own ideas, experiment with new techniques and strive to produce work of the highest quality.

Perseverance

Art and Design teaches children that successful outcomes are rarely achieved on the first attempt. Pupils learn to embrace experimentation, respond positively to feedback and refine their ideas through practice and evaluation. They develop resilience when overcoming challenges and confidence in improving their work over time.

Success

Every child experiences success through creativity. Whether sketching, designing, constructing or evaluating, pupils are encouraged to recognise their progress and celebrate their achievements. We value originality, effort and growth, helping children to develop confidence in their abilities as both artists and designers.

By the time they leave Milton Abbot, our children will have developed the knowledge, skills and confidence to express themselves creatively, solve problems imaginatively and appreciate the role of art and design in shaping the world. They will understand that creativity, curiosity and determination are essential tools for success in learning and in life.