Art

At St Thomas’ the aims of our art curriculum are for open-ended creative learning providing the children with a rich creative journey to be owned by each individual rather than a prescribed outcome driven approach.  We teach skills and knowledge but it is the experience of making art that is most valuable. 

This means lots of practical making, drawing, painting, printmaking etc.  We believe in exposing children to as many techniques, materials and concepts as possible so that every child can find their creative voice.  The end points are deliberately broad and embracing  thus enabling children to think and act creatively.  We aim for every child to feel entitled and enjoy talking about and making art. 

Creativity brings many broader benefits to the individual than just the formal technical skills.  As a school we seek not to limit the notion of art.  We make art as inclusive and accessible as possible. We believe that it is every child’s right to be creative.  Drawing and sketch books underpin all art in school.  We recognise that children need to use their hands to work in three dimension and should experience for themselves the differences between art made by designers, architects, craft people and artists.  All of this is supported and enhanced by adding painting, print making, mixed media, digital art, photography. 

                    Whole School Art Project

An art project that started in the Coronation year finally came to fruition this week. No less than 200 octagonal glazed tiles created by each school child and staff member in 2023 are now on display under the statue of St Thomas Becket.

My sincere thanks goes to Mr Gutierrez and his daughter Nadia for their excellent work installing the tiles.

The designing, making and painting of the tiles brought a lot of pleasure. We now have a lasting record of a memorable year!

Mrs Whitehead, Art Lead