As pupils move through school, they also develop wider disciplinary knowledge through craft and design, artist study, and opportunities to explore how artists use line, tone, texture, colour, shape, pattern and form. The curriculum is designed so that children revisit key skills regularly, deepening their understanding each year and applying what they have learnt in increasingly independent and creative ways.

The overall aim is for pupils to think and work like artists – experimenting, observing, evaluating and refining their ideas as they progress through school.

Curriculum Progression Overview

Reception

In Reception, children begin their art journey through exploration and discovery. They learn to make marvellous marks, experiment with a range of tools and materials, and develop early control in drawing and painting. They are encouraged to talk about what they can see and create, and to represent their ideas through open-ended making and modelling.

Year 1

Year 1 builds on early exploration by helping children begin to use art more deliberately. In Colour Splash, pupils learn about colour mixing, primary and secondary colours, and how artists use colour to create effects. In Make Your Mark, they strengthen their drawing skills through line, shape, pattern and texture. In Paper Play, they explore sculpture and 3D techniques through folding, rolling, tearing and assembling paper.

Year 2

In Year 2, pupils continue to develop their technical control and begin to make more purposeful artistic choices. In Life in Colour, they deepen their understanding of colour, pattern and mixed media. In Clay Houses, they explore sculpture and 3D, learning how to shape, join and decorate clay to create structures.

Year 3

Year 3 introduces more formal exploration of art techniques and historical inspiration. In the Ancient Egyptian Scrolls, children study craft and design by creating work inspired by an ancient civilisation. In Growing Artists, they develop drawing skills through observation and experimentation. In Prehistoric Painting, they explore painting and mixed media, considering how early artists communicated ideas.

Year 4

Year 4 deepens pupils’ understanding of visual elements and artistic processes. In Power Prints, children explore drawing and print-based effects, looking at repeated patterns and bold visual impact. In Light and Dark, they study how tone can be used in painting and mixed media. In Fabric of Nature, they focus on craft and design, creating work inspired by natural forms and patterns.

Year 5

In Year 5, pupils become more analytical and expressive in their artwork. In I Need Space, they develop drawing skills through scale, perspective and spatial awareness. In Portraits, they explore painting and mixed media, studying how artists represent people and identity. In Architecture, they build on craft and design skills, investigating structures, balance and design principles.

Year 6

In Year 6, pupils bring together all of their previous learning to create more individual and ambitious outcomes. In Artist Study, they analyse and respond to the work of significant artists. In Make My Voice Heard, they use drawing to communicate ideas, messages and opinions. In Making Memories, they complete sculpture and 3D work with a strong focus on personal expression and refinement.

Progression of Skills Across School

The Kapow Art & Design curriculum is designed so that pupils revisit and build on key skills each year. Progression is evident in the following areas:

How the Scheme Supports Learning

The scheme supports pupils to:

It also ensures that learning is carefully sequenced so that pupils steadily revisit and deepen their knowledge each year, preparing them well for the next stage of their education.

In Summary

Through the Kapow Art & Design scheme, children at our school experience a broad and ambitious curriculum that develops both practical skills and creative thinking. From early mark-making in Reception to expressive and reflective final pieces in Year 6, pupils are encouraged to experiment, observe, design and create with confidence.