Art and Design

Art and Design Leader: Mrs Guest

Art and Design

Vision

At Holme Junior and Infant School, our vision for Art and Design is rooted in our core values: Aspirational, Adventurous, Creative, Resilient, Respectful, and Independent. These values shape every aspect of our art curriculum and reflect our commitment to developing confident, expressive individuals who are ready for the next stage of their education and life beyond school.

Aspirational: We believe every child is an artist in their own right. Our art curriculum inspires children to take pride in their work and aim high. By exploring the work of great artists, both past and present, we show pupils that their ideas matter—and that their creative voice can be powerful and valued.

Adventurous: Art at Holme is about exploring, experimenting, and being brave. We encourage children to take risks in their artwork, to try new materials and techniques, and to be open to the unexpected. Whether it’s sculpting with clay or painting with bold colour, our pupils are supported to step out of their comfort zone and discover their artistic potential.

Creative: We place creativity at the heart of everything we do. Children are given space and freedom to generate ideas, explore different styles, and express their feelings, thoughts and identities. From sketchbooks to large-scale pieces, we nurture originality and imaginative thinking.

Resilient: We teach our pupils that not everything goes right the first time—and that’s OK. Art can be challenging, and part of the joy is working through mistakes or trying again. Our curriculum builds resilience by encouraging children to reflect on their work, persevere through difficulties, and understand that improvement is a journey.

Respectful: Art is a personal journey, and we foster a classroom culture where all contributions are valued. Children learn how to discuss and evaluate artwork in a respectful, thoughtful way—both their own and that of others. We also explore how artists from different times and places have expressed themselves, building respect for diverse perspectives and traditions.

Independent: From choosing materials to refining their own ideas, we encourage independence at every stage. Our pupils learn to take ownership of their creative choices, developing confidence and pride in their work. We equip them with the skills and mindset to direct their own learning and trust in their own vision.

Our vision is to nurture pupils who not only develop artistic skills, but also grow into confident, well-rounded individuals who embody our school values. Through Art and Design, we aim to spark curiosity, build confidence, and foster a lifelong love of creativity.

Implementation

Our art curriculum is carefully structured to build on students' prior knowledge and skills as they progress through each year group. Lessons are planned to ensure that students experience a wide range of artistic techniques and concepts, with a focus on developing both technical skills and creative thinking.

• Drawing: Students explore various drawing techniques, focusing on observation, line, tone, texture, and form. They study the works of different artists to inspire their own creations.
• Painting: We introduce students to a range of painting techniques, from watercolours to acrylics, helping them to understand colour theory and composition.
• Printmaking: Students learn various printmaking techniques, such as monoprinting, relief printing, and screen printing, encouraging experimentation and creative problem-solving.
• Textiles: We offer opportunities for students to explore textile art, including weaving, fabric dyeing, and embroidery, integrating traditional and contemporary practices.
• 3D and Sculpture: Students work with different materials such as clay, wire, and recycled objects to create three-dimensional artworks, enhancing their spatial awareness and fine motor skills.

We ensure that every lesson not only teaches practical skills but also encourages critical thinking, self-expression, and reflection. The curriculum is enriched by visits from local artists, trips to galleries, and participation in community art projects, which provide students with real-world experiences and inspiration.

Impact

The impact of our art curriculum is evident in the confident, creative, and independent thinkers we develop. Our students leave Holme Junior & Infant School with:

• a deep appreciation for the arts and an understanding of its cultural significance.
• a portfolio of work that showcases their progression in technical skills and creative ideas.
• the ability to reflect on their own work and that of others, providing constructive feedback and celebrating diversity in artistic expression.
• a sense of belonging and connection to their community, demonstrated through their participation in local art exhibitions and projects.
• the resilience to tackle artistic challenges and the aspiration to continually improve their skills.

Our students are well-prepared to take their passion for art into the next stage of their education and beyond, equipped with the creativity and confidence to make meaningful contributions to the world.

Art & Design Overviews

Progression Documents

Our Art Cycle

Artists Studied

Artweek 2024 - our exhibition as a fringe venue 'The Lost Words'

The Lost Words is a ‘book of spells’ that seeks to conjure back the near-lost magic and strangeness of the nature that surrounds us. Each lost word is conjured back to importance through Robert MacFarlane’s powerful spells. They are called spells rather than poems as they are designed to be spoken (or sung!) out loud in order to summon back these words and creatures into our hearts. 

The book began as a response to the removal of everyday nature words - among them "acorn", "bluebell", "kingfisher" and "wren" - from a widely used children’s dictionary, because those words were not being used enough by children to merit inclusion. But The Lost Words then grew to become a much broader protest at the loss of the natural world around us, as well as a celebration of the creatures and plants with which we share our lives, in all their wonderful, characterful glory."

Robert explains: "We’ve got more than 50% of species in decline. And names, good names, well used can help us see and they help us care. We find it hard to love what we cannot give a name to. And what we do not love we will not save.”

Each acrostic spell has 3 accompanying artworks by Jackie Morris– a glorious triptych of watercolour painting – firstly a clever but solemn display of the creature or plant’s absence from our world, then the spell itself accompanied by an ‘icon-esque’ self portrait of the central character surrounded with sumptuous gold leaf, and finally the creature or plant is depicted embedded in its natural habitat.

Hilary Hughes generously donated 'The Lost Words' to Holme School several years ago after falling in love with the book. She was eager to share its magic, and it has indeed captivated the children at Holme School. Nestled in the stunning Yorkshire countryside, our school is fortunate to be immersed in nature every day. This exhibition was our way of expressing gratitude for her wonderful gift and for the extraordinary environment in which we live.

Holmfirth Arts Festival

Our children had the opportunity to take part in Holmfirth Arts Festival this year. Karen Stansfield from West Yorkshire Print Workshop visited our Class 2 pupils, who took part in a screen printing workshop based upon the work of Ukrainian folk artist, Maria Prymachenko. Our children carried our banner proudly through the streets of Holmfirth the following Saturday during the Sunflowers Parade. 

Dragons

During Autumn Term, Class 2 immersed themselves in the world of dragons, reading texts such as How To Train Your Dragon and Darwin's Dragons. In art, we made our own 'dragon eyes' out of clay. Pupils spent time learning skills to manipulate clay, create texture and pattern, join with slip and score. Each child then designed their own 'dragon eye' and made it, finally painting it using acrylics.  

The Big Draw

For The Big Draw 2024, the whole school were given the opportunity to work with Hardeep Singh Sahota, who has exhibited his Bhangra Lexicon light painting series at Yorkshire Sculpture Park. The Big Draw theme this year was 'Drawing With Your Senses' so we used Bhangra music to dance to and a camera on a slow shutter speed to capture all of our movement. It was a very different way of drawing for the children than they are used to and they enjoyed it immensely! 

Sketchbooks

All children record their learning in their sketchbooks, experimenting with techniques and mediums, and working towards a final piece. Risks are encouraged and mistakes are celebrated! Pupils notate in their sketchbooks, commenting on what they have used and how they feel about their creations. Art from the past as well as contemporary artists are researched and art topics vary. Our sketchbooks are beautiful and pieces of work in their own right! 

Community Arts

We have invited parents, governors and other members of our school community in to create flowers for displays, take part in willow workshops and decorate mugs to celebrate royal occasions! Pupils' work has also been exhibited at Empty Gallery In Holme after creating some wonderful Greek pottery with local ceramicist, Tim Copsey. Our children took part in the Biennale, working with The Children's Art School, to create textile pieces which contributed to a stunning piece based on the work of Joanna Vasconcelos.