Art

At North Star 180, our Art & Design curriculum is designed to meet the needs of all pupils. Learning is carefully planned to be  inclusive, accessible, and meaningful, supporting pupils to develop knowledge,
skills, and understanding that are relevant to their lives. Through a well-sequenced and personalised approach, pupils are supported to make progress from their individual starting points, building confidence, independence, and skills.

Intent

The intent of the Art & Design curriculum in Secondary is to:

·        Develop pupils’ creative, practical, and expressive skills so they can explore ideas, communicate meaning, and express themselves with increasing confidence.

·        Ensure pupils learn key artistic knowledge, including the formal elements (line, tone, colour, form, texture,
pattern, and shape), alongside a growing understanding of artists, craft makers, and designers.

·        Enable pupils to experiment with a wide range of materials, tools, and techniques, building control, coordination, and problem‑solving skills.

·        Prepare pupils for adulthood by developing transferable life skills such as planning, decision‑making,
independence, resilience, and following processes and instructions.

·        Reflect the school values of respect,esponsibility, and aspiration through collaborative work, positive
relationships, and pride in achievement.

The curriculum is ambitious and inclusive, ensuring all pupils can achieve and succeed regardless
of need. In Art & Design, this means providing multiple entry points, varied routes to success, and personalised approaches that value creativity over correctness and progress over perfection.

 

Implementation

The Art & Design curriculum for secondary is implemented through:

·        Projects shaped around themes, artists, and real‑world contexts that offer purposeful, engaging learning and allow pupils to make meaningful connections to their own experiences.

·        The use of explicit modelling, visual supports, chunked tasks, sensory exploration, and hands‑on learning tailored to SEND learners.

·        Opportunities to work with a wide rangeof tools, materials, and processes, including drawing, painting, collage,printmaking, mixed media, digital art, 3D work, and craft.

·        Supportive teaching approaches such as scaffolding,repetition, structured choices, demonstration, guided practice, and accessibleresources.

·        Encouraging independence throughroutines, self‑assessment, choosing materials, and managing tools safely andresponsibly.

·        Personalised adaptations to ensure everylearner can participate meaningfully, such as alternative recording methods,simplified steps, pre‑prepared materials, visual prompts, or adult support.

     Staff use a range of strategies and resources to make learning engaging andinclusive, including sensory materials, artist studies, multimedia resources, exemplar work, and student-led creative exploration.

 

Impact

The impact of the Art & Design curriculum is demonstrated by:

·        The progress pupils make from their starting points in practical skills, creativity, and expressive outcomes.

·        Increased independence, confidence, and willingness to take creative risks.

·        Development of communication skills throughdiscussion, evaluation, and expressing personal ideas visually.

·        Improved fine‑motor skills, concentration, regulation, andresilience through sustained creative tasks.

·        Pupils’ ability to apply artistic techniquesand processes in real‑life or vocational contexts.

·        Evidence in sketchbooks, portfolios, and finished pieces that show progression over time.