St Mary Magdalene Catholic Primary

At St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Primary, we aim to provide an Art and Design Technology curriculum that pupils from Reception to Year 6, not only enjoy, but also acquire a range of skills and techniques whilst using a variety of materials. We value Art and Design Technology as an important part of the children’s entitlement to a broad and balanced curriculum.

It is our aim at St Mary Magdalene Catholic Primary School for children to:

Art

• develop handling, moving and fine motor control skills
• produce their own, original creative work, exploring their ideas and recording their experiences
• develop language skills, social skills, curiosity, decision-making and risk-taking
• connect with their own culture, as well as with the wider world
• explore different materials and develop their own ideas of how to use them effectively
• explore ideas in the work of a variety of artists
• express their feelings and ideas, both as a means of self-expression and to communicate with others
• learn more about how people lived in the past, by looking at art and artists
• begin to develop an understanding of how art reflects and shapes our society, contributing to a nation’s culture, creativity and wealth
• express their individual creativity, working both individually and collaboratively with others

Design Technology

• develop skills, knowledge and understanding of designing and making functional products
• develop creative vision, technical vocabulary and practical skills
• build and apply a repertoire of knowledge, understanding and skills to design and make high quality prototypes and products for a wide range of users
• critique, evaluate and test their own ideas and products and the work of others
• understand and apply the principles of nutrition and learn how to cook
• develop an understanding of key developments in history which is broadened when researching important individuals and their inventions
• problem-solve, making on-going changes and improvements during the design and make process
• know about the seasonality of ingredients and how they are grown, caught or reared
• know how to participate successfully in an increasingly technological world
• develop practical skills and techniques as they apply these to designing and making prototypes and products
• develop understanding of products and their intended users
• develop their communication skills through design technology, when they are sharing ideas and explaining their thinking

Our vision

It is our vision that Art and Design Technology provides the children with the opportunities to develop and extend skills whilst expressing their individual interests, thoughts and ideas. We strive to use our high-quality curriculum to inspire, engage and challenge children whilst allowing them to experiment and invent their own works of art, craft and designs. We want our pupils to become critical thinkers and to develop a rigorous understanding of art and design. Our aim is for children to master a range of techniques when using different materials. As they progress through the curriculum, we will also provide pupils with the opportunity to critically evaluate and analyse artwork, form opinions and encourage them to use artistic language in discussions.