Art
The visual arts play an important part of life at Bessemer. The school is committed to ensuring the high-quality teaching of Art and Design Technology. Art and DT across the key stages, follows a rich spiral curriculum, which explores the work of artists and designers and teaches a progression of skills in a range of media.
Bessemer aims to enable children to flourish creatively, to have the skills and confidence to explore ideas using a range of medium and to have the vocabulary to discuss and give opinions about the work of others. By the time they leave Bessemer, we hope each pupil feels able to express their creativity and know the enjoyment of designing and making.
Across the key stages, children get the opportunity to practice different techniques, including drawing, painting, clay 3D modelling, and textiles, such as sewing, batik, and printing.
Often, these activities are purposefully linked to each year groups' termly topics - exploring artists and craftspeople with a historical, cultural, and global perspective. We follow our Skills Progression Grid (available below), to ensure that each area of study is explored in greater depth, and key skills are built upon as children progress through the school.
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- Art-and-DT-Progression-Grid-KS2 download_for_offline
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- Art-and-DT-Topic-Overview download_for_offline
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- Early-Years-Overview download_for_offline
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- Gem-Art-and-Design-Curriculum-Statement download_for_offline
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Art Week
Each academic year begins with a themed Art Week. Previous years have included themes such as identity, portraits, nature, still life, and landscape, which are explored through the work of individual artists. The children create both an independent, and collaborative piece of art. The work is displayed around the school, which parents are invited to view at tutorial day.
Art week
All children in Key Stage 1 and 2 begin the academic year with a sketchbook: a place to reflect, comment, and record ideas; practice techniques, and collect visual information to support their own art work. Children are given the terminology and confidence to talk about artworks and the technique used, and are encouraged to express their own opinions and preferences about them.
Learning Across the Year Groups
Early Years
In Early Years, we explore Art through hands-on, creative experiences. Children experiment with colour mixing, printing and collage, and begin to work in both 2D and 3D using materials such as clay, paper mâché and salt dough. They learn to draw from observation, explore light and shadow, and express their ideas using a wide range of tools and media.
Enjoy exploring some of the wonderful artwork from our Early Years classrooms!
Year 1
In Year 1, we develop our artistic skills through drawing, painting, sculpture and printing. Children create observational portraits inspired by artists such as Picasso, Matisse and Marten Jansen, explore colour mixing and texture, build 3D sculptures and experiment with rubbings and repeated patterns.
Take a look at some of the fantastic artwork from our Year 1 artists!
Year 2
In Year 2, we explore textiles, painting and collage through creative themes. Children create Kenyan-inspired dyed fabrics with stitching, paint expressive portraits inspired by influential artists, and design seaside collages using layered textures. They experiment with tone, colour and different tools to develop confidence in their artistic choices.
Explore some of the vibrant and creative artwork from our Year 2 artists!
Year 3
In Year 3, we deepen our skills through sculpture, collage, painting and printing. Children create clay sculptures inspired by mountains and volcanoes, design Egyptian-inspired collage paintings influenced by artists such as Gustav Klimt, and produce printed artworks based on South American landscapes.
Discover some of the imaginative and expressive artwork from our Year 3 artists!
Year 4
In Year 4, we explore painting, sculpture and printmaking through rich historical themes. Children create paintings inspired by London at War, sculpt Roman clay busts, and design layered river collages combining printing and texture techniques.
Take a look at the thoughtful and creative artwork from our Year 4 artists!
Year 5
In Year 5, we explore digital media, printmaking and 3D form through diverse cultural themes. Children create digital artwork inspired by the UK, design repeated pattern prints influenced by William Morris, and sculpt vibrant Day of the Dead masks using clay and mixed materials.
Explore the bold and imaginative artwork from our Year 5 artists!
Year 6
In Year 6, we refine our artistic skills through sculpture, printmaking and digital media. Children create clay sculptures inspired by Ancient Greek pottery, produce layered Japanese landscape prints, and design digital landscape paintings influenced by contemporary artists.
Celebrate the sophisticated and expressive artwork created by our Year 6 artists!
The Big Draw
Last year's Big Draw theme was "Drawing with Senses". In our classes, we all listened to different songs with different tempos, dynamics, pitches, melodies, rhythms, and timbre. We listened carefully and thought about what colours, shapes and movements we could hear. We then used a variety of mediums to express ourselves freely using the music as inspiration. Here are some of the pieces we produced!
- Art-and-DT-Progression-Grid-KS2 download_for_offline
