Art & Design
Creativity is one of the values that defines life at Grafton Primary School.
For us, Art is not simply about producing beautiful work to display on a wall. It is about helping children make sense of the world around them, express their ideas, solve problems and discover their own unique voice.
Every child is an artist, a designer, a thinker and a creator.
Our role is to nurture that creativity by giving children the confidence to explore, experiment and take risks, knowing that mistakes are simply part of the creative process.
Learning to See the World Differently
Art begins with observation.
We encourage children to slow down, look carefully and notice the extraordinary in the everyday. Whether they are studying a leaf, a building, a portrait or a famous painting, children learn to observe with curiosity, ask thoughtful questions and develop an appreciation for the world around them.
These are skills that extend far beyond the art room — they help children become better thinkers, better communicators and more reflective learners.
The Creative Journey
At Grafton, we believe creativity is a process rather than a product.
Children are encouraged to experiment with materials, explore different techniques and develop their own ideas. They learn that great artists don't always get things right the first time and that creativity often grows through curiosity, resilience and reflection.
The finished piece matters — but the learning that happens along the way matters even more.
We want children to ask:
- "What happens if I try this?"
- "How could I improve it?"
- "What have I discovered?"
Those questions develop confident learners as much as confident artists.
Building Skills That Last
As children move through the school, they revisit materials and techniques, developing increasing confidence and control each time.
Drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, textiles, ceramics, photography and digital media are introduced progressively so that children build secure foundations before applying their skills in increasingly creative and ambitious ways.
Children also learn about artists, designers and makers from different cultures, traditions and periods in history, helping them understand how creativity has shaped our world and continues to do so today.
Creativity Across the Curriculum
At Grafton, creativity doesn't stop when the art lesson ends. Art enriches learning across the curriculum.
Children might deepen their understanding of Ancient Egypt by creating canopic jars or pharaoh masks, explore history through observational drawing, communicate scientific ideas visually or use digital technologies to create animations and films.
By making learning practical, memorable and meaningful, creativity helps children build lasting understanding.
Every Child Has a Creative Voice
We believe every child deserves opportunities to succeed creatively. Some children who find other areas of learning challenging discover confidence through art. Others find that creativity gives them a way to express ideas and emotions that words alone cannot.
Our classrooms are places where children feel safe to experiment, celebrate individuality and develop their own artistic identity.
Every child's work is valued because every child's perspective is unique.
Learning Beyond the Classroom
Children's creative experiences are enriched through visits to galleries, artists working alongside pupils, creative practitioners, performances and projects such as the National Gallery's Take One Picture, which inspires whole-school learning through great works of art.
These opportunities broaden horizons, spark curiosity and help children understand that creativity belongs to everyone.
Art Through Our Values
Love – Encouraging every child to develop confidence in their own creative voice.
Creativity – Inspiring imagination, originality and the freedom to explore new ideas.
Kindness – Celebrating one another's work, respecting different perspectives and learning together.
Inclusion – Ensuring every child can experience success through creative expression, whatever their starting point.
Resilience – Developing confidence to experiment, learn from mistakes and keep refining ideas.
Empowerment – Helping children recognise that their ideas, imagination and creativity have value.
When children leave Grafton Primary School, we hope they leave with far more than artistic skills.
- We hope they leave with curious minds.
- The confidence to think differently.
- The courage to express their own ideas.
- The ability to look closely at the world around them.
And the understanding that creativity is not something reserved for artists. It is something that belongs to every one of us.
Documents
Arts PolicyCreativity in EducationA Rationale for Learning, Teaching and Assessment of Art and Design