Art

Art Leader: Miss Charlotte Doolin

Charlotte is responsible for the research, development and implementation of the Art curriculum at Northstead. She oversees the teaching of Art, ensuring lessons are engaging, accessible, and supportive of every child’s learning journey. With a strong focus on devleoping artistic skills and engaging children in the world of Art, Miss Doolin aims to build children’s knowledge and skills in art throughout their time at Northstead. 

Art at Northstead Community Primary School – A Parent’s Guide

At Northstead, we believe that every child is an artist. Our aim is to provide a rich and inspiring art education that nurtures creativity, builds confidence, and helps children explore the world through artistic expression.

How Art is Taught

We use the Access Art programme to deliver our Art curriculum. This structured approach helps children develop artistic skills and knowledge in a way that’s fun, hands-on, and aligned with the National Curriculum for Art and Design.

Each half-term, children take part in a series of engaging lessons that explore different techniques, styles, and materials—from drawing and painting to sculpture and printing. Lessons are designed to help children experiment, reflect, and refine their skills as they grow as artists.

Focus Artists

Each term, every year group studies a focus artist. These one-off lessons introduce children to famous artists and their unique styles, offering fresh inspiration and new perspectives on art-making. Children then create their own artwork influenced by the artist’s techniques.

When Is Art Taught?

Art is taught every other half-term, with a focus on:

Drawing / Painting / Sculpture / Printing

Over time, children build a broad understanding of art while developing their personal expression and critical thinking.

In the Classroom

Art lessons at Northstead are practical and engaging. Each lesson includes:

Hands-on activities using a variety of materials

Introduction of key vocabulary and artistic techniques

Teacher-led demonstrations using a Teacher Modelling Book

Encouragement for students to explore and express themselves creatively

Each child also has their own Art Book, which travels with them through the years and becomes a portfolio of their artistic journey.

Final Artwork and Displays

At the end of each unit, children create a final piece that reflects everything they’ve learned. These pieces are:

Finished to a high standard

Displayed in school to celebrate students’ efforts

Photographed and included in their Art Book for lasting memories

Displaying their work builds pride and helps foster a vibrant, creative school environment.

Assessment and Feedback

We don’t use formal tests in Art. Instead, teachers:

Provide real-time verbal feedback during lessons

Support children in improving their technique and developing ideas

Track progress using internal systems to ensure every child is developing their skills

This approach helps children feel safe to take creative risks and develop confidence in their own artistic voice.

Questions?

If you have any questions about the Art curriculum or your child’s work, feel free to speak to their class teacher or contact the school’s Art Lead. We look forward to seeing your child’s creativity blossom at Northstead!

Take a look at some of our amazing artwork below…