Art

At Hungerford, we believe that the Art & Design curriculum nurtures creativity in every learner and encourages self-expression through a variety of media. Children will explore and practise a broad range of artistic skills, giving them the opportunity to develop their own unique styles. They will study both historical and contemporary artists, gaining insight into how the techniques they learn can be used to create impactful works that influence society.

Our pupils also have the chance to engage with local artists and visit galleries and exhibitions, helping them connect their learning to real-world experiences. These opportunities show children how artistic skills can be applied in both personal and professional contexts throughout their lives.

Our curriculum promotes well-being and supports children in having meaningful artistic experiences. At Hungerford, we emphasise that art is a journey—a process of creating, exploring, discovering, and experimenting—rather than simply producing a finished product.

The aims of the Art & Design Curriculum are:

• Encouraging expression
• Giving children ‘a voice’
• An opportunity to interpret and influence the world around us
• Having pride in what we do and appreciating the efforts of others
• Taking joy in aesthetics
• Owning our environment and giving pleasure to others
• Is it truly creative? (we don’t aim to produce 30 identical pieces of work; skills and techniques may be focussed upon, but that which is created is not intended to be identical)
• Pursuing freedom, creativity, success at one’s own level, exploration, finding understanding and meaning, appreciation, learning to be part of an audience
• Skills and understanding: process rather than just end product
• No right and wrong way, no right or wrong answer

Expressing personal feelings through their art, craft and design work

Children begin their artistic education during the Early Years Foundation Stage, where they acquire foundational knowledge and vocabulary through the areas of Expressive Arts and Design, as well as Physical Development. This foundation supports their continued learning as they progress into Key Stage 1.

The National Curriculum does not define a minimum entitlement for the Art & Design curriculum, other than stating that all pupils should have the opportunity to work towards the subject’s aims through engagement with its content. At Hungerford, we believe that every child is entitled to a broad and balanced Art & Design curriculum that supports skill progression and encourages individual expression. Art & Design units are linked closely to Geography and History topics to promote cross-curricular learning, with progressive skills demonstrated across the year groups.

We are committed to providing effective learning opportunities that enable all children to succeed in the Arts. We set appropriate learning challenges to promote deeper understanding, respond to the diverse needs of our pupils, and work to remove any barriers to learning—aligned with Hungerford Primary Academy’s inclusion policy.

• At Hungerford we access children’s work in Art & Design by making informal judgements as we observe each lesson and consider the skills being used. Teachers use a combination of formative and summative assessment strategies, supported by regular discussions and thoughtfully crafted questions to assess and deepen children’s understanding. At the start of each project, we discuss the skills children already possess to activate their prior learning. By the end of the project, each child produces a final piece that reflects the skills they have developed throughout the term. Teachers also review sketchbooks to observe the children’s creative process. This reflective journey is seen through conversations with adults and peers heavily in Key Stage 1, and additionally through written annotations in sketchbooks in Key Stage 2. Children will have the opportunity to describe and interpret artwork, compare different styles and techniques, and explore cultural and historical contexts. They will also evaluate their own work, consider feedback from others, and use this to enhance their creations. This reflective process helps them recognise what was successful and identify areas for improvement in future work.Through participation in the Art & Design curriculum at Hungerford Primary Academy, children will develop and refine a wide range of artistic skills, including painting, drawing, collage, sculpture, printing, and sewing.

In recent years, our Year 5 pupils have had the exciting opportunity to participate in a multi-school arts competition, with the chance for their work to be exhibited at Liverpool’s iconic Walker Art Gallery. This initiative is designed to foster creativity, inspire ambition, and expand students’ exposure to art beyond the classroom. It keeps young people engaged in the arts by highlighting potential career opportunities and encouraging them to explore exhibitions. Additionally, it promotes a deeper connection with culture outside of the school environment, helping pupils develop a broader understanding of the artistic world.

2023-2024

Year 5 pupils developed and refined their artistic techniques by exploring and experimenting with a wide variety of mixed media. Their final pieces were particularly striking, drawing inspiration from their geography lessons focused on the dramatic landscapes of mountains and volcanoes. Alongside their topic work, pupils explored the artwork of the celebrated Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai, taking a closer look at the intricate details and techniques behind his famous woodblock print, The Great Wave off Kanagawa. This blend of artistic investigation and cross-curricular learning allowed students to create expressive and thoughtful pieces that showcased their growing understanding of traditional Japanese art and its cultural significance.

2024-2025

This year, Year 5 pupils have been refining their drawing skills through a focused activity in which they completed half-finished photographic images using only sketching pencils. This exercise required a high level of concentration and challenged the children to observe fine details with great care. Through this process, pupils were able to explore a range of shading techniques—such as hatching, cross-hatching, and blending—to add depth and realism to their drawings.