Art and Design

At Greenways, we believe that Art and Design is a powerful way for children to express themselves, explore their creativity and build confidence. Through art, our pupils develop not only their skills in drawing, painting and sculpture, but also their imagination, resilience and ability to think critically about the world around them.

We have developed our own Art & Design curriculum, carefully planned to ensure children build up their knowledge and skills year after year. Lessons are based on the formal elements of art – such as line, shape, colour and texture – and give children the chance to explore a wide range of techniques and materials. As they move through school, children learn to talk about their own work and the work of others using artistic vocabulary, and gain an understanding of different artists, styles and cultures.

Our curriculum goes beyond the National Curriculum. We aim to inspire children to enjoy art for life and encourage them to take pride in their own creativity. All children have sketchbooks to record their ideas and progress, and their artwork is regularly celebrated in displays and exhibitions both in school and in the wider community.

Children at Greenways also have the opportunity to take part in a wide range of creative experiences beyond the classroom, including:

• Whole school Arts Weeks

• Extra-curricular art clubs

• Visiting artists and workshops

• Whole school projects

• Exhibitions and school displays

We are incredibly proud to have been awarded the Silver Artsmark Award in 2024. This national recognition from Arts Council England reflects our commitment to placing the arts at the heart of our curriculum.

“Engaging with the arts is having tangible results on pupils and staff. Arts and Culture feature in school planning and are supported by SLT, alongside internal and external specialist staff for music. Pupils access a consistent and relevant range of experiences in school which leads to showcasing within school and the local community, supported by extra-curricular activity. The focus of this journey has been around redesigning and embedding a new Art and Design curriculum with a system of core knowledge overviews and building staff confidence to be able to deliver.”
— Arts Council England

Our pupils enjoy regular opportunities to engage with art through lessons, workshops, gallery visits, and community exhibitions. They are encouraged to celebrate their work, reflect on different artistic traditions and cultures, and express their ideas through a variety of media and techniques.