Design Technology and Art and Design
Design Technology
The design technology curriculum at Mill Lane encourages resilience, problem solving and creativity. Children are engaged in the whole design process, from researching and designing, through to making, evaluating and modifying their products. Throughout their time at school, all children will be given opportunities to work with an increasingly wide range of materials, including reclaimed materials, resistant materials, food and textiles. Likewise, they will be taught to safely and effectively use an increasing number of tools.
We feel it is important that children of all ages are provided with opportunities to design and make real products for real purposes; for example, making products to sell at our Christmas Fair, or making props and costumes for school stage productions. At Mill Lane we have a history of exciting food technology projects. As well as our popular Year 5 and 6 Let’s Get Cooking club, we have a tradition of ending our Year 6 children’s time at school with a large scale cooking event. In recent years this has included Scottish and Italian themed three course meals, in which the children have worked together to prepare, cook and present all of the food, as well as learning how to set and wait on tables. Last year they prepared a lovely tradition English afternoon tea.
Art and Design
Our art and design curriculum engages children in a variety of different activities, practical work, critical reflection and discussion, writing and planning. Throughout their time at school, children will gain experience in using a variety of media and techniques, including sculpture, painting, drawing, printing and collage, as well as digital media. At Mill Lane, we appreciate that art should be as much about a process or journey as it is a finished product. We value the tactile and therapeutic qualities of art, whilst at the same time equipping the children with the skills and confidence needed to achieve the best finish they can. For example, children are taught to draw carefully from observation, and to manipulate a wide variety of materials in their work. In addition to taught lessons, in Early Years Foundation Stage and Year 1 and Class 7, children have access to art equipment as part of their continuous provision.
Whilst inspiration for artwork often comes from our cross curricular topics, children also learn about the work of famous artists and makers. Here they are encouraged to ask questions and respond to the work of others, in order to develop their understanding of visual language.
For more information, please go to long term plans.
Art and Design Technology Intent Statement
The Curriculum at Mill Lane Primary School
The Intent, implementation and Impact of our Curriculum – Art and Design Technology.
INTENT
At Mill Lane Primary School, we value and are dedicated to the teaching of Art and Design Technology. We see this as a fundamental element of school life. We are committed to providing an ‘Arts Rich Curriculum’ for our children. We believe that by developing this, we can contribute to the quality of our children’s lives, both within and beyond school. We see art and design as a means to support learning in a range of ways. The skills that are developed in these subjects can be transferred across the curriculum and thus aid learning.
IMPLEMENTATION
As a school and in accordance with the National Curriculum’s expectations, we aim to ensure that all pupils:
- Produce creative work, exploring their ideas and recording their experiences
- Become proficient in drawing painting, sculpture and other art, craft and design techniques
- 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
- Class teachers are usually responsible for teaching art and design technology, although there will be times when professional artists/helpers will be involved in the teaching of the topic. We take every opportunity to develop links with outside agencies and experts, in order to enrich our Art and Design provision.
IMPACT
Our children enjoy the self-expression that they experience in both Art and Design Technology.
They are always keen to learn new skills and work hard to perfect those shown to them. The children’s art is very often cross-curricular, and helps them to express feelings and emotions in art, as well as show their knowledge and understanding in history, geography and science.
