At Burnside Primary School, we are passionate about the arts, and our curriculum reflects this dedication in every lesson. We aim to empower children to express themselves and find their own creative voice. Designed to help pupils think, work, and communicate like artists, our ambitious art curriculum gives every child the opportunity to build essential knowledge, develop key skills, and showcase their learning through the creative process.
Art is a deeply personal journey, and our curriculum at Burnside Primary School is designed to embody our core values—be safe, be smart, and be kind—while empowering every child to thrive, achieve, and belong.
We teach our pupils from their very first days that art is a universal language and that every single child is an artist. By creating a supportive environment where pupils feel secure enough to take creative risks (be safe), they learn to express their unique identity, explore the world around them, and develop a true sense of belonging within our school and wider community.
Through an ambitious curriculum, children build the foundational skills and critical thinking needed to work like true artists (be smart). They explore how art shapes our history, enriches our culture, and contributes to the wider economy, inspiring them to broaden their horizons and aspire to great achievement in their own futures.
Above all, art at Burnside encourages empathy and self-expression. As children experiment with different mediums, ask thoughtful questions, and respond respectfully to the work of others (be kind), they gain the confidence to share their own unique voice with the world and truly thrive.
National Curriculum Aims
At Burnside Primary School, we follow the National Curriculum for art, ensuring that every child is inspired to thrive, achieve, and belong. Our curriculum empowers all pupils to:
Be safe in their self-expression as they produce creative work, explore original ideas, and record their personal experiences.
Be smart by mastering key techniques in drawing, painting, sculpture, and digital design, while learning to analyse and evaluate creative works using the rich language of art.
Be kind when reflecting on diverse perspectives, appreciating how great artists, craft makers, and designers throughout history have shaped our culture and world.
Throughout their journey at Burnside Primary, pupils discover significant artists and art movements across history. Through immersive stories and hands-on practice, children build essential knowledge—from foundational colour theory to complex techniques—helping them grow into confident, creative individuals.
Key Stage 1
In Key Stage 1, pupils are encouraged to be safe when taking creative risks and expressing themselves. They will learn to:
Use a wide variety of materials creatively to design and make unique products.
Express their imagination, experiences, and ideas through drawing, painting, and sculpture.
Be smart in developing foundational techniques using colour, pattern, texture, line, shape, form, and space.
Explore the work of diverse artists, craft makers, and designers—learning to be kind and respectful as they compare different styles and make meaningful links to their own work.
Key Stage 2
In Key Stage 2, pupils build the confidence and independence needed to thrive and achieve. They will learn to:
Be smart by mastering their control of materials and refining their techniques through active experimentation and creative thinking.
Use individual sketchbooks to record observations, review past work, and revisit ideas as their personal style develops.
Improve their mastery of key disciplines—including drawing, painting, and sculpture—using a rich variety of media such as pencil, charcoal, paint, and clay.
Study great artists, architects, and designers throughout history, understanding how their work shapes our world and helps us feel a sense of belonging.