Art Curriculum Statement

At Marlborough St Mary’s, our engaging, active curriculum is inclusive, experiential and rooted in our Christian values. We enrich children’s learning through practical, cross-curricular experiences that spark curiosity and resilience, enabling every child to thrive. We place a strong emphasis on the fundamental skills of reading and talk, ensuring our pupils develop a love of reading that opens doors to knowledge and imagination and the ability to communicate with clarity, confidence and respect.  We want our pupils to feel a strong sense of connection: to each other, their families, our school and the wider community. Through partnerships with local schools, businesses and community groups, children learn to see their place in the wider world and understand how they can contribute positively to it.  We also believe that joy should be at the heart of childhood. Our curriculum is deliberately designed to create moments of happiness, wonder and delight - experiences that make pupils smile, laugh and love learning.

Our curriculum is challenging, sequential and aspirational for all. It builds knowledge and skills over time while linking learning to real-life experiences. In doing so, we support children to grow independence, creativity and self-belief, preparing them to take their place as responsible and compassionate citizens of the Marlborough community and as citizens of the wider world.

 

Subject leader: Miss B Ambrosini

Intent – What We Aim For

At Marlborough St Mary’s, our Art curriculum is designed to ignite creativity, nurture imagination and empower every child to see themselves as an artist. Art is a bold, expressive and joyful subject that allows pupils to explore ideas, experiment with materials, learn new skills and develop the confidence to take creative risks.

Our curriculum is rooted in our four whole-school foci:

Talk – Pupils learn to discuss their ideas, articulate their creative choices and use subject-specific vocabulary to express opinions about their own and others’ artwork. Talk helps children build confidence, reflect deeply, and understand that artistic ideas grow through conversation.

Read – Reading is woven throughout our Art curriculum. Children explore stories behind artists, artworks and cultures, developing knowledge of artistic movements and understanding how different times, places and perspectives shape creative expression.

Connection – Our Art curriculum helps pupils build meaningful connections within their class, across the school and beyond. By studying a diverse range of artists and participating in collaborative projects, children learn how creativity links people, places and ideas. This helps pupils understand that art is a universal language that builds community and belonging.

Joy – Art should spark joy. Childhood should be filled with moments that make pupils smile, laugh and love learning. We carefully plan creative experiences that bring delight and wonder, whether it’s experimenting with new materials, exploring colour, visiting galleries or discovering artists who challenge them to see the world differently. We believe joyful learning leads to deeper engagement and more confident artists.

 

Through an inclusive, aspirational and skills-led curriculum rooted in Christian values, we aim for all children—especially disadvantaged learners—to become resilient, reflective and bold young artists prepared for life beyond primary school.

 

Implementation – How We Teach Art

Art at Marlborough St Mary’s is taught through a carefully planned, progressive curriculum that develops both knowledge and practical skills.

- Learning is sequenced so pupils revisit, refine and build upon key skills such as drawing, painting, printing and sculpture.

- Sketchbooks are used as personal creative journals where pupils record ideas, practise skills, reflect on progress and respond to artists’ work.

- Talk is embedded throughout lessons: pupils explain techniques, describe their creative intentions, and critique artwork using accurate vocabulary.

- Reading supports learning: pupils explore artist biographies, cultural stories, and texts that deepen their understanding of artistic movements and styles.

- Pupils study a diverse range of artists, gaining insight into how personal history, identity, culture and environment influence art.

- Teachers offer ongoing, real-time feedback, enabling pupils to adapt and refine their work as they learn.

- Lessons are inclusive and adaptive, with targeted support ensuring disadvantaged learners and those with additional needs can participate confidently and successfully.

- We provide opportunities for real-world artistic experiences, such as gallery visits, interacting with local artists and engaging in collaborative projects when available.

- Through carefully chosen experiences, we ensure pupils feel connected to their surroundings and experience authentic moments of joy in their creative learning.

 

Impact – The Result

By the time pupils leave Marlborough St Mary’s, they are confident, reflective and expressive young artists who show pride in their achievements and can articulate their artistic choices with clarity.

 

Our learners:

- Demonstrate progressive skill development in their sketchbooks, from initial ideas to finished pieces.

- Use precise art vocabulary to evaluate and critique artwork.

- Make meaningful connections between the art they create, their personal experiences, their community and the wider world.

- Show a genuine joy for art, approaching creative challenges with enthusiasm, curiosity and resilience.

- Are well-prepared for KS3, equipped with strong technical foundations, creativity and independence.

 

We are especially proud of our disadvantaged learners, who flourish through targeted support and rich experiences that help them discover their artistic potential. They leave us as brave, thoughtful and joyful creators, ready to continue their artistic journeys.