Curriculum Intent

Art is an essential avenue for expressing human creativity and insight, stimulating individual thoughts, emotions, and ideas through the senses. At Florence, our Art curriculum aims to cultivate every student's creative abilities and develop an appreciation of this uniquely human attribute through hands-on experiences and exposure to diverse artistic perspectives. We guide students to understand, engage, and participate in the creative process, equipping them with skills that are both artistically enriching and valuable for personal and professional futures. Our curriculum is designed to ensure that each student, regardless of their background or ability, can thrive by discovering a medium, style, or subject that resonates with their unique strengths and interests.

Our students explore a wide range of media, techniques, and artistic practices, while experiencing the works of artists, designers, and cultural craftspeople from around the world. Our program introduces students to a spectrum of artistic voices, nurturing an appreciation for diverse cultural and historical perspectives that inform and inspire their own creativity.

Curriculum Implementation

Our curriculum combines foundational knowledge in art history with practical skills to nurture confident, hands-on artists. By engaging with the works of both historical and contemporary artists, students develop critical thinking, analysis, interpretation, and communication skills essential to artistic growth. Students explore visual elements such as line, shape, texture, colour, and composition, which they revisit and expand upon across each Key Stage, deepening their understanding of art's language and techniques.

In practice, our curriculum encourages students to reflect on and respond to their own work and that of others. They are taught to consider art in various contexts, developing personal insights and finding ways to express their ideas creatively. Through guided exploration, students build technical skills, take creative risks, solve visual problems, and visualise outcomes. Each project encourages students to connect with their individual interests and perspectives, using art as a medium for self-expression and exploration of their values and beliefs.

Literacy and critical thinking are integral to the program. Through discussions, critical studies, and reflection on their own and others' artwork, students build visual literacy and oracy, expanding their understanding of art's role in communication and cultural expression. Annotation and vocabulary specific to each project are embedded throughout each Key Stage, allowing students to articulate their understanding and engage in art discourse.

Disciplinary Knowledge

The disciplinary aspect of our curriculum focuses on understanding the elements and principles of art and how they are applied to create meaning and aesthetic impact. Students develop evaluative skills, enabling them to critique their own and others' work thoughtfully, understanding the techniques and intentions behind artistic choices. This understanding is cumulative and applied across multiple genres and contexts, enabling students to build a rich, interconnected knowledge base.

In Year 7, students build fundamental skills in drawing, colour theory, and composition, setting a foundation for expressive capability. Year 8 expands on these skills through analysis and experimentation with diverse media. By Year 9, students are proficient in various techniques and begin to develop a critical understanding of art as a response to societal themes, drawing inspiration from a variety of artists, architects, and designers.

At Key Stage 4, students embark on an in-depth exploration of Fine Art, working through development, refinement, recording, and presentation stages. In Year 10, they create a portfolio on themes like identity and environment, using multiple stimuli and media. In Year 11, students choose from thematic prompts to create personal, well-researched responses that they present as a culminating project.

Curriculum Impact

In the Florence Art Program, we assess students’ progress continuously to ensure meaningful skill acquisition and concept retention. Our assessments are both formative and summative, allowing students to demonstrate their progress in technique, critical analysis, and creative expression. Teachers provide regular feedback to support each student’s artistic journey, adjusting lesson plans to meet individual needs and nurture every learner’s potential.

At the end of each project, students participate in procedural assessments where they apply their skills to produce cohesive, impactful works. Summative assessments at the year’s end measure growth in both skill and conceptual understanding. This data is used to identify trends, inform instruction, and guide targeted support for students across all years.

Through our assessment framework, we ensure that Florence students develop as thoughtful, skilled, and independent artists. The Florence Art Curriculum equips students with the confidence and creativity to pursue further education or a career in the arts, preparing them to engage with and contribute to the artistic landscape with originality and purpose.