The Arts
Art
Intent
Art and design stimulates creativity and imagination. It provides visual, tactile and sensory experiences, and a way of understanding and responding to the world. The children at Leiston Primary School use their art work as a form of visual communication and personal expression in a variety of media and techniques. Our aim is to foster creative confidence and a sense of curiosity which children can carry with them beyond their primary school years.
Implementation
Art is taught throughout the school from Nursery to Year 6. Art may be taught as a discrete lesson or taught through cross curricular lessons. We follow the Kapow Art and Design scheme of work which allows the children to develop practical making skills through the mediums of drawing, painting, mixed media and sculpture as well as learning about and discussing a range of artists and craftspeople. We are very keen for the children to experience working with experts and so have arranged a number of workshops where children get the opportunity to work for the day with an artist. These have been really inspirational experiences for our pupils.
Impact
Progression is supported by the focus on discrete lessons, while creativity is further encouraged and developed through the cross-curricular approach. Discussions with pupil parliament have shown that Art is celebrated throughout the school and children feel supported to experiment with their creativity.
If you would like to support your child in the development of their creative skills, these websites may be useful:
https://www.accessart.org.uk/art-resources-for-home/
Art and Design Long Term Plan 2024-25
Art and Design Progression of Skills and Knowledge
Young East Anglian Artists
This year we participated in the Young East Anglian Artists Competition. The theme was "Connections" and we were amazed by all the different responses and what this meant to the children. 7 of our young artists were chosen to be exhibited in the art show held in Woodbridge. Parents and carers had the opportunity to see all pieces of art when we held our own show in school, at the same time raising money for "Cancer Research UK".
Science Fair
This year the year 6 group organised and hosted an amazing Science Fair in school. Part of that was a section "Art and Science" where different year groups exhibited art made though science - investigating magnetism, chromatography, kinetic movement.
Year 1 - exploring techniques and materials in painting
Year 5 have been looking at the work of Peter Thorpe and used this as an starting point for their own interpretations of "Space"
Year 6 have been looking in detail at cityscapes and have produced their own original responses through mixed media.
Cross curricular Art
As well as our discrete Art lessons we enjoy cross curricular art throughout the school. Here are some examples:
Year 2 learnt about 'The Great Fire of London'. They created models of the buildings and then reenacted the fire. They captured these images through striking artwork.
Year 3 and 4 working as a team.
Year 4 considered the effect of pollution and rubbish on sea animals producing written and art work to share their ideas.
Year 5 learnt about traditions in Ancient Egypt and made their own Death masks.
Year 5 made some beautiful Egyptian sunset pictures and learnt how to write in hieroglyphics.
We explored British Cultures and Values in the school and commerorated the Royal family with portraits of Queen Elizabeth II
Celebrating Chinese New Year - the year of the tiger.
Year 6 Art Workshop 2022
The Year 6 class had a fantastic day with local artist Alfie Carpenter when he came in to share some of his amazing mixed media collages and to show the children how to make their own masterpieces. This was a great opportunity for the children to become really immersed in the activity and see the creative process through from beginning to end in one day.
Creative Leiston Summer 2021
Leiston Primary School became involved in the "Creative Leiston" project involving local arts and crafts people exhibiting their work in and around Leiston in June and July 2021. The children really enjoyed this opportunity to express their creativity through textiles, painting and sculpture. Work was exhibited in the Long Shop museum as well as shop windows around the town. Here are some examples for you to enjoy!
Design and Technology
Intent
DT is a practical subject that is based on a broad range of subject knowledge and draws on disciplines such as mathematics, science, engineering, computing and art. Using creativity and imagination, pupils design and make products that solve real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts, considering their own and others’ needs, wants and values.
During their time at Leiston Primary School children will consider different areas within the subject. These areas are : Food and Nutrition, Textiles, Structures and Mechanisms. As well as learning vital practical skills they will consider real life products, designs and designers and consider the impact of their work.
Design Technology is taught in a progressive manner, visiting and revisiting the areas, building on prior knowledge and skills and enabling children to acquire life long practical skills as well as the ability to be reflective, evaluating their own and others’ work and identifying how to improve.
Implementation
LTP for DT 2020/21
Children will revisit the different areas within DT throughout their time at Leiston, progressively building on their knowledge and skills. Here are the skills we expect children to learn at the different stages:
Food and Nutrition
Foundation Stage: Begin to develop a food vocabulary using taste, smell, texture and feel. They start to think about the need for a variety of foods in a diet. Understand need for basic hygiene when handling food.
Key Stage 1: Begin to understand that all food comes from plants or animals. Begin to develop children’s peeling and chopping skills. Assemble ingredients to prepare food, using simple tools to cut, peel or grate safely and hygienically.Know that food has to be farmed, grown elsewhere (e.g. home) or caught. Understand how to name and to sort into food groups. Begin to use techniques such as cutting, peeling and grating. Prepare food safely and hygienically, measuring and weighing ingredients using measuring cups and digital scales.
Lower Key Stage 2 : Begin to know that food is grown (such as tomatoes, wheat and potatoes), reared (such as pigs, chickens and cattle) and caught (such as fish) in the UK, Europe and the wider world.Be able to use a range of techniques such as peeling, chopping, slicing and grating. Follow a recipe, using appropriate utensils and measuring skills to prepare predominantly savoury dishes safely and hygienically.
Upper Key Stage 2: Understand that seasons may affect the food available. Understand how food is processed into ingredients that can be eaten or used in cooking. Become increasingly skilled at peeling, chopping, slicing, grating, mixing, kneading and baking. As designers, create and refine recipes that demonstrate a range of baking and cooking techniques, applying previously learned skills.
Textiles
Foundation stage: Children are exposed to different fabrics and experiment with cutting and collaging.
Key Stage 1: Children learn how to weave. Children learn how to sew and join fabrics using a running stitch. Children learn how to cut out shapes which have been created by drawing round a template onto the fabric. Children begin to sew using a range of basic stitches
Lower Key Stage 2: Children are able to join fabrics using a range of stitches with increasing independence. They learn how to add further decoration to their work using buttons , beads, sequins etc.
Upper Key Stage 2: Children can create products using pattern pieces and demonstrate an awareness of seam allowance. Children can pin and tack fabric pieces together. They can join fabrics by over sewing, back stitch and blanket stitch. Children are able to make quality products with increasing accuracy and independence.
Structures
Foundation stage: Begin to build structures with a range of materials inside and out.
Key Stage 1: Begin to build structures, joining components together to create a finished product. Explore how they can be made stronger, stiffer and more stable.
Lower Key Stage 2: Build structures with increasing independence . Begin to demonstrate a growing understanding of how to reinforce and strengthen their finished products.
Upper Key Stage 2: Build innovative, functional, appealing, structures that are fit for purpose. Evidence how products can be made stronger and more stable. Use finishing techniques to strengthen and improve the appearance of their models.
Mechanisms
Foundation stage: With support begin to incorporate moving parts into models. For example, use split pins to make body parts move.
Key Stage 1: With some initial support and then progressively more independence, begin to explore and use simple mechanisms . For example, use sliders in moving pictures, hinges into models etc. Begin to incorporate wheels and axles into their products.
Lower Key Stage 2: Begin to develop an understanding that mechanical systems such as levers and linkages or pneumatic systems can create movement. Begin to incorporate these into their products.
Upper Key Stage 2: Develop an understanding of how cams, pulleys or gears create movement. Create and use prototypes. Investigate products incorporating circuits. Design and make products with these features.
Impact
Children at Leiston Primary school have the opportunity to develop skills through Design and Technology projects throughout the year.
Matilda(Year 6) "In DT you learn to be creative, experiment and figure out what works for yourself using lots of different materials."
Below are some recent examples of DT across the school.
Leiston Christmas Fair
Students are set the challenge of making and selling products at our whole school Christmas Fair with a budget of only £10. A real life challenge to appeal to the market!
Knex Challenge.
Year 5 and 6 explore Knex and are set the challenge of making a moving windmill.
Castles
Children in Year 1 learn about the history and structure of castles.
DT in the Foundation Stage
Children in Reception exploring and investigating Design and Technology through their play.