Art
Our Curriculum leader is Mrs Carla Donald
At Glusburn School we believe...
Intent & Ambition
At Glusburn School, we believe that art lessons will engage, inspire and challenge all children to think innovatively and develop creative understanding. Our aim is to allow children to express their individual interests, thoughts and ideas alongside building resilience, confidence and critical-thinking skills. We equip our children with the knowledge and skills needed to experiment, invent and create their own works of art. They should also know that art and design both reflect and shape our history, and contribute to the culture, creativity and wealth of our nation.
We have Art Ambassadors within all KS2 classes who work hard to promote art and support staff and children to get the best from their lessons.
Implementation
Children experience 3 alternate half-terms of art each year, this allows them sufficient time to become fluent in their knowledge and skills to create final pieces of work, whilst recalls will ensure this is embedded in their long term memory. The art curriculum at Glusburn school is taught through the progression of art and design techniques using a range of media and materials. Where possible, creative ideas for our art work link to other curriculum areas such as history or geography. Children learn the skills of drawing, painting, textiles, 3D work and digital art and are given opportunities to explore and evaluate different creative ideas. In art lessons children are expected to be reflective and evaluate their work, thinking about how they can make changes and keep improving.
Children are encouraged to take risks and experiment and then reflect on why some ideas and techniques are successful or not. From an early age children are taught how to create visual representations of their thoughts through visual note taking techniques. More information on this method can be found here.
How does the art curriculum reflect our school values and ethos?
At Glusburn School we believe that through the art and design curriculum, the children will recognise that art comes from all walks of life and from every corner of our planet. Our children will know that creativity comes in many different forms and that though we do not always agree on what is the best form, we will agree that everyone has a voice and an opinion about the art that they are either creating or looking at, but will critique the art with respect.
UNCRC ARTICLE 29: Education must develop every child’s personality, talents and abilities to the full. It must encourage the child’s respect for human rights, as well as respect for their parents, their own and other cultures, and the environment.
We want our children to see art and design as an outlet for creativity as well as positive well-being and wellness, in our ever changing world. We aim to nurture the natural talents of our children and celebrate those talents and successes.
UNCRC ARTICLE 31: Every child has the right to relax, play and take part in a wide range of cultural and artistic activities.
UNCRC ARTICLE 13 Every child has the right to find out and distribute information and to express their ideas – through talking, writing, art or any other form of expression.
As a community school we try hard to share our outcomes with those around us and as such we have the shared use of a community display board in the village.Iin the past competition pieces have been displayed as well as outcomes from our Art Ambassador meetings.
We have strong leadership opportunities for our pupils and this year we have introduced Art Ambassadors to allow children the chance to promote art throughout school as well as enjoy extra art during luchtimes.
How does the art curriculum impact on children’s cultural capital and in becoming well rounded citizens?
The study of great artists is developed over time and children gain knowledge and appreciation for a wide range of local and global artists of merit. Through the art curriculum at Glusburn School, our children will know that they are entering a diverse world and that they can add to that diversity with their own creative thoughts and passions. They will know that art and creativity can be an invaluable tool to promote wellness and positive mental health as they face the rigors of the modern world.
In a bid to support our children and give them all the same opportunities we have developed Class sketchbook bags across the whole school, which are filled with equipment that might not be readily available at home. These bags are taken home for a week at a time and children add art to the pages - they are free to choose the different media and be as creative as they wish.
Special Educational Needs and Disability
We recognise that pupils with SEND have a range of different needs and starting points. Some of our pupils have severe, complex or profound needs that have a significant impact on their cognitive development, especially the way that they are able to make alterations to their long-term memory. Teachers are ambitious for all pupils including those with SEND, developing and adapting the curriculum so that it is coherently sequenced to all pupils’ needs, starting points and aspirations for the future; acquiring the knowledge and cultural capital they need to succeed in life.
UNCRC ARTICLE 23: A child with a disability has the right to live a full and decent life in conditions that promote dignity, independence and an active role in the community.
Glusburn Art Ambassadors 2026
At Glusburn, our Art Ambassadors play an important role in celebrating and promoting art throughout the school. These enthusiastic pupils have a passion for creativity and are eager to inspire others to enjoy and engage with art in their classrooms and beyond. The ambassadors help to introduce our Artist of the Half Term through assemblies, share important art-related messages with their classes, and support teachers by organising resources and preparing equipment for lessons. They also help to care for art materials, ensuring that our creative spaces remain well organised and ready for learning.
As part of their role, Art Ambassadors have the opportunity to attend a special lunchtime art club where they can further develop their skills and creativity. Most importantly, they act as a voice for their peers, sharing ideas and suggestions about how art can be improved across the school. We believe that pupils should have a say in their learning, and our Art Ambassadors help shape an exciting, inspiring, and creative art curriculum for everyone.
Additional Links
Click on the links below to see Padlets of art work produced by our children:
Progression of Drawing at Glusburn School
Year 6 Henry Moore Shelter sketches
Year 3 Egyptian Clay tablets 2022
