Our Vision
At Alfreton Park School, we believe that Art and Design should stimulate creativity and imagination in every pupil. We celebrate each pupil’s unique voice, imagination and individual way of seeing the world. We believe that creative freedom enables our pupils to communicate what they feel, see and think through the use of colour, texture, form, pattern and a variety of materials and processes. Through our pathways, we facilitate rich visual, tactile and sensory experiences, opening opportunities for every pupil to explore and express themselves.
We are committed to providing a high-quality Art and Design education that inspires, challenges and equips pupils with the knowledge and skills to experiment, invent and create their own works of art, craft and design.
Our aims are:
- To enable pupils to become visually literate and understand that art is a powerful form of communication.
- To enable pupils to use a wide range of media to communicate ideas and feelings.
- To nurture creativity and develop a range of artistic skills and techniques.
- To develop pupils’ capacity for imaginative and original thought and encourage them to try out ideas without fear of failure.
- To enable pupils, through observation, to learn about and respond to the world around them.
- To help pupils understand the role of art, craft and design in their environment and take inspiration from it.
- To enable pupils to become increasingly independent in planning and reviewing their work.
- To support pupils in developing their full potential confidently and independently.
Our Values in Action
We Aim High for our pupils by providing opportunities to attend exhibitions, enter competitions, hold celebratory exhibitions, engage with creative industries during careers week and work towards Arts Awards.
We are Caring within lessons by encouraging peer feedback where appropriate and celebrating the entire creative process. Our art clubs and creative spaces provide a safe and nurturing environment as part of our wider wellbeing offer. Pupils know they can access the art room as a calm and supportive space, whether as part of their timetable or when they need time to reflect and create.
We are Brave in our approach to learning. We encourage pupils to value the creative process over the final product and celebrate the skills developed along the way. We promote a culture where it is safe to experiment, make mistakes and refine ideas as work progresses.
How Art Supports Our Curriculum
Our Art curriculum supports the wider development of our pupils across key areas:
Cognition and Learning
Pupils develop visual literacy through exploring colour, shape, pattern and construction. Art provides opportunities to explore ideas across the curriculum and engage with the creative world while developing sequencing, reasoning and problem-solving skills.
Communication and Interaction
Art encourages mark-making, storytelling, self-expression and choice-making. Pupils share preferences, give peer feedback and use creative media as a powerful tool for non-verbal communication.
Social, Emotional and Mental Health
Art provides a safe and nurturing environment where pupils can regulate emotions, build self-esteem, form friendships and experience joy. The art room is recognised by pupils as a calm and creative space, supported by lunchtime clubs, enrichment opportunities and individual sessions with our art mentor as part of our wider wellbeing provision.
Physical and Sensory Development
Creative activities encourage movement, coordination and engagement. Pupils develop both gross and fine motor skills by working at small and large scales. We encourage freedom of expression while providing rich sensory experiences through materials, textures and processes.
Key Concepts in Art and Design
We plan progression across the following key areas:
- Drawing
- Painting
- Printing
- 3D work
- Collage
- Textiles
- Use of IT
- Knowledge of artists, craft makers and designers
At Alfreton Park School, we see every member of our community as an artist and a creative thinker. Pupils are encouraged to explore, express themselves and shape their own individual worlds through creativity.
Through our Art and Design vision, we aim to unlock each pupil’s potential, spark joy and develop pride and self-worth. We ensure that every pupil feels valued, capable and proud of what they create.
Our creative community extends beyond the classroom to include families and carers. We invite them to celebrate our pupils’ achievements and participate in creative experiences such as our Art Trail and Big Draw events, strengthening the connection between school, home and the wider community.