At St. Anne’s, our Art curriculum is designed to foster creativity, confidence, and curiosity. It aims to inspire pupils to express themselves through a wide range of artistic disciplines, including drawing, painting, printmaking, textiles, 3D and collage. Rooted in the National Curriculum and enriched by the CUSP framework, our curriculum ensures that pupils progressively develop both their technical skills and creative thinking over time.

By revisiting key skills across year groups with increasing complexity, children build strong foundations and become confident in working artistically. Our curriculum emphasises the core elements of art – shape, line, colour, value, form, texture and space – enabling pupils to understand art. Through purposeful projects, exploration of diverse artists and cultures, and opportunities for self-expression, children are equipped not just to create, but to talk about, reflect on, and evaluate their own and others’ work using rich artistic vocabulary.

We believe that every child is an artist. At St. Anne’s, we nurture this identity by enabling pupils to produce and display artwork with pride and purpose, sharing their creative journeys with the wider school and community.

Implementation

• Our curriculum follows the sequenced structure of CUSP Art, organised into blocks that focus on key artistic disciplines. Vertical progression is deliberately built into each strand, ensuring that knowledge and skills are revisited and deepened over time.

• Each unit also develops aspects of “Working Artistically” – such as using shape, line, colour and texture effectively – so children can understand not just how to make art, but how art works.

• Lessons are supported by annotated exemplifications, vocabulary modules, and teacher videos that build subject knowledge and modelling confidence. A strong emphasis is placed on oracy and vocabulary, enabling pupils to describe, interpret and evaluate their work.

• Pupils study a diverse range of artists, architects and designers – ensuring representation of both men and women from a variety of cultures and backgrounds.

• Teachers plan for a purposeful final piece at the end of each module. This outcome is shared, displayed, and celebrated, showcasing the children’s learning and progression.

• Sketchbooks are an essential part of the learning process in all year groups. In Key Stage 1, they are used to develop initial ideas and practise techniques. In Key Stage 2, they become a regular creative space for exploration, reflection, and experimentation, encouraging independent thinking and revisiting of concepts.

• Whole-school opportunities for art events, cross-curricular links, and enrichment opportunities help deepen engagement and widen the artistic experiences for all pupils.

Assessment

Assessment in Art at St. Anne’s is formative, fluid and rooted in observation. Teachers assess children’s development in action, as they create, explore and reflect. We value the process of art-making as much as the final product. Through discussion and feedback, pupils are encouraged to articulate their choices and thinking, allowing teachers to identify areas for support or extension.

The use of exemplified outcomes, teacher guidance materials and subject-specific vocabulary supports consistent and meaningful assessment across year groups. Regular reflection in sketchbooks and pupil voice also help us gauge artistic progression over time.

Block A

Block B

Block C

Block D

Block E

Block F

Year 1

Drawing

Painting

Printmaking

Textiles

3D

Collage

Year 2

Drawing

Painting

Printmaking

Textiles & Collage

3D

Creative Response

Year 3

Drawing & Painting

Printmaking

Textiles & Collage

3D

Painting

Creative Response

Year 4

Drawing

Painting

Printmaking & Textiles

3D & Collage

Painting

Creative Response

Year 5

Drawing & Painting

Printmaking

Textiles & Collage

3D

Painting

Creative Response

Year 6

Drawing

Painting & Collage

Printmaking & Textiles

3D

Painting

Creative Response