At the Bliss Charity School, art is taught to give our children a learning experience which stimulates creativity; enabling them to use their artistic skills, concepts and knowledge to express their ideas and experiences in a visual and tactile form and to demonstrate progression. Our scheme of work aims to inspire pupils and develop their confidence to experiment and invent their own works of art. Through a deeper understanding of art and design, the children can gain access to the cultural richness and diversity which shapes the history and creativity of our nation and that of others.

We enrich and develop our children’s specialist skills using the Kapow curriculum which provides the children with the means to experiment, create and invent their own works and to critically and meaningfully reflect on theirs and the work of others. At Bliss, children are taught to improve their mastery of art and design techniques with a range of materials, and about great artists, architects and designers in history. 

The scheme is designed with five strands that run throughout. These are:  

• Generating ideas 
• Using sketchbooks 
• Making skills, including formal elements: line, shape, tone, texture, pattern and colour 
• Knowledge of artists 
• Evaluating and analysing  

Units of lessons are sequential, allowing children to build their skills and knowledge, applying them to a range of outcomes.  

Key skills are revisited with increasing complexity, building on previous learning and each year group is organised into four core areas: 

• Drawing 
• Painting and mixed-media 
• Sculpture and 3D 
• Craft and design 

Lessons are scaffolded so that they can be accessed and enjoyed by all pupils.

As artists, when children leave Bliss, they demonstrate the ability to produce creative work in a wide range of different mediums, exploring their ideas, recording them and critically reflecting upon their experiences and the work of others. We evaluate the children’s learning through observations of their masterpieces, sketchbook looks and pupil voice. Children’s art is celebrated throughout the school to motivate and inspire others and to nurture the pleasure and understanding of art and design.