“Every child is an artist”
Pablo Picasso
At Simonside Primary School, we believe every child is an artist. Through a carefully sequenced and inspiring Art curriculum, we nurture our pupils’ creativity, imagination and independence, so they can express themselves with confidence and individuality. Our aim is to ensure that every child develops the knowledge, skills and techniques needed to communicate their ideas visually and to appreciate the diverse world of art, craft and design.
Our Art curriculum follows a clear and progressive model across all year groups. Each unit of work proceeds in a sequence of:
- Research / Artist Study — Children engage with a diverse range of artists and artistic traditions, encompassing local, British and international influences.
- Experimentation — Pupils explore media, materials and techniques, developing their creative vocabulary and technical skills.
- Planning — Learners devise and refine their ideas, making purposeful choices that reflect their vision.
- Creating — Children apply their knowledge and skills to produce original pieces of art, craft and design.
- Evaluation — Learners use artistic language to critique their own work and that of others, reflecting on how materials, methods and context shape outcomes.
From the Early Years Foundation Stage, children are encouraged to explore freely and express their own ideas. As they move through Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2, the curriculum enables them to build on prior knowledge, deepen their cultural awareness and develop their own personal artistic style within a broad and balanced offering.
As a result of this process and creative approach:
- Pupils demonstrate creativity, independence and ownership of their artistic learning.
- Children articulate their ideas and reasoning using appropriate artistic vocabulary and reflect thoughtfully on their work and that of others.
- Learners recognise that art is inclusive: everyone is an artist and all contributions have value.
- Through engagement with a wide range of artists and cultural traditions, pupils grow in confidence, cultural literacy and critical thinking — qualities that align with our wider school ethos of nurturing successful, confident and caring individuals.
Through Art, our children learn that perseverance, curiosity and imagination lead to success — not just in the classroom, but in life.
We are proud to see our pupils flourish as confident, independent artists who understand that creativity has the power to shape the future.
Art as a process
The children are exposed to a range of artists, through research and experimentation. They then use this to influence their final pieces. The children are encouraged to personalise their work and use techniques they have been shown. This not only leads to unique pieces but also develops their artistic vision.
Artist Studies
Each new unit begins with an introduction to a notable artist. Children investigate the artist’s work, share their thoughts and observations, and talk about what inspires them. They are encouraged to respond creatively, expressing their ideas and learning in their own individual ways.
Key Stage 1
Key Stage 2
This was such a fantastic unit of work. You can really see the artistic process that the children went through to create their cave painting masterpieces. They used natural materials to create texture, sponged paint on top, then painted woodland animals to finish. They looked so realistic and the children took such pride in their work.
