Art

At Clanfield Junior School, we believe Art is a powerful way for children to explore ideas, express themselves, and make sense of the world around them. Every part of our Art curriculum has been lovingly crafted and deliberately chosen just for our children — a bespoke mix of creativity, curiosity, and connection.  Linked to our whole-school themes of diversity, nature, and friendship, children celebrate different cultures, explore the beauty of the natural world, and use art to share their thoughts, feelings, and stories in powerful ways.

Artist studies:

We have deliberately chosen a diverse and inspiring range of artists for children to study throughout their learning journey. Pupils learn key facts about their lives, influences, and unique styles — discovering how each artist’s story and creativity can spark new ideas of their own. One of the artists we study is Clarke Reynolds, a local blind artist whose work and story inspire our pupils. Clarke’s ambition is for everyone to be able to access and experience art through touch, breaking down barriers and showing that creativity belongs to everyone. He demonstrates that nothing should stand in the way of expressing yourself, and he encourages our children to see art as something that can be felt, shared, and enjoyed by all. See Clarke's website for more inspiration!

The ART learning journey:

Developed in partnership with Hampshire Advisory Services, our Art curriculum brings together skills, knowledge, and imagination, helping every child discover how art is made and why it matters.
Through our carefully designed learning cycle, children have meaningful opportunities to grow as artists by:

• 🎨 Developing knowledge and ideas — exploring different artists, materials, and techniques that spark curiosity and creativity.

• 🖌️ Refining and experimenting — trying out new tools and approaches, learning that mistakes are part of the artistic journey.

• ✏️ Recording and making — bringing their ideas to life through sketchbooks, drawings, paintings, sculptures, and digital art.

• 🌟 Presenting and evaluating — sharing their artwork proudly, reflecting on progress, and celebrating creativity with others.

Each stage builds confidence and joy, inspiring our pupils to see themselves as artists with their own unique voice and story to tell.

A special part of this journey is each child’s art sketchbook — a personal space where creativity truly comes to life. Pupils use their sketchbooks to explore ideas, practise techniques, experiment with different media, and reflect on their progress over time. These books tell the story of their artistic growth, showing how their confidence and individuality flourish from one year to the next.