What do we teach in Art at Bridge? 

Art and Design

What is the intent of our art and design curriculum?

At Bridge, we want children to talk positively about art and share their experiences, experimenting with the techniques they have been taught, so that they are developed over time and that memorable experiences build children’s confidence and expertise in art. We want children to foster a long-term love of art and parents to be engaged in this journey with their children. Ultimately, we want to bring art alive.

How will we implement our art and design curriculum?

We follow the Art Programme of Study from the 2014 National Curriculum. Our curriculum is inclusive and meets the needs of all children; developing positive attitudes to learning. We provide opportunities so that children understand the context of the artwork, as well as the artists that they are learning about which are then used for inspiration. They will learn to positively critique art and designs using a wide range of vocabulary and present information to an audience during whole school exhibitions and gallery displays.

The children will be taught to develop their techniques, including their control and their use of materials, with creativity, experimentation and an increasing awareness of different kinds of art, craft and design. Across the school the children will:

• Produce creative work, exploring their ideas and recording their experiences
• Create sketch books to record their observations and use them to review and revisit ideas
• Become proficient in drawing, painting, sculpture and other art, craft and design techniques
• Improve their mastery of art and design techniques, including drawing, painting and sculpture with a range of materials [for example, pencil, charcoal, paint, clay]
• Evaluate and analyse creative works using the language of art, craft and design
• Know about great artists, craft makers and designers, and understand the historical and cultural development of their art forms.

Our Impact

As the children progress through the school, they develop and improve their observations and techniques in drawing, painting and sculpture with a range of materials. The children will have produced a portfolio of art in their sketch books and folders that will reflect their independent journeys. Through visiting art galleries, conversing with ‘real-life artists, taking part in themed learning and researching a range of artists, the children will have had opportunities to experiment and demonstrate a creative outcome. We hope that this will enable our children to develop a sense of ownership and confidence in their own abilities and artistic visions which will help them to excel as lifelong learners on their educational journey.

Spring 2020 Update on the Artsmark

In February 2018 Bridge Junior School began an exciting journey in to the Artsmark where we could engage our children, staff and community into a range of art forms.
We devised an action plan of points we wanted to focus on over the two year project:
> Increasing a range of art and musical opportunities and experiences for our children.
> Raising staff confidence in the arts and teaching in alternative ways to inspire our children.
> Involve our community and demonstrate how the arts can enrich our childrens’ education.

Over the two years we have worked towards the targets above. Our project enabled us to build strong links with our local art bases in Leicester such as the Attenborough Arts Centre (AAC), the Mighty Creatives and City Classroom.

Our Year 5 and 6 cohorts over the past two years have been very lucky to be the very first to view wonderful exhibitions at the AAC, meet the artists in person or via video links, artists have visited the school to hold a range of workshops, the children have performed at the AAC and had their work exhibited in the gallery.

The children have engaged with and been inspired by the following artists:
> Aaron Williamson - Multimedia Artist
> Claude Cahun - Photography Art with masks
> Laura Swanson - Photography Art with identity
> Amartey Golding - Multimedia Artist
> Yinka Shonibare - Cultural and Political Artist
> Lucy Jones - Expressive Artist
> Sargent Mann - Landscape and Figurative Artist
> Emma Fay - Portrait Artist
> Juan Delgado - Landscape Artist
> Kelly Richardson - Multimedia Artist using computer software
> Ava Hunt - Theatre Company Artist
> John Berkavitch - Poetry Artist
> Bridget Riley - Fine Artist
> Mrs Kaur - Music Artist - Sitar, Harmonium, Tanpura
> Mr Singh - Music Artist - Tabla, Dhol

> Leicester City Music Hub - Artist and Instruments
> DeMontfort Hall - Singing Winter Concert
> Bridge Junior School - Singing Choir with instruments

Free venues in Leicester that provide an arts cultural experience are:
Atttenborough Arts Centre in Leicester
New Walk Museum
Newarke Houses Museum
Abbey Pumping Station
The Guildhall Museum
Belgrave Hall Leicester
Jewry Wall Museum
Leicestershire Music Education Hub

Other venues that provide experiences for a cost include:
Space Centre in Leicester
Leicester Print Workshop

Bridge Junior School would like to thank all the above venues and artists for the wonderful experiences they have provided our children, staff and community with over the past two years. We hope to continue these links to inspire our young minds to think and learn in more eclectic and diverse ways.

Useful Resources