Arts – Music, Art and Design Technology

Music

Music at Ashmount plays a vital role in developing children’s happiness and a sense of well-being, in addition to developing the musical knowledge and skills required to become an accomplished musician.

All children from Nursery to Year 6 receive a weekly music lesson taught by specialists. During these music lessons, children cover all aspects of the National Curriculum, including opportunities to create their own song arrangements; compose their own music; learn to improvise and sing songs from a range of styles and periods. As part of these lessons children are also introduced to reading music and learn to play music using tuned percussion as well as whole class tuition on violin and ukulele.

All children are encouraged to develop their performance skills within a caring and nurturing environment following our belief the growth mind-set. Opportunities to perform occur weekly for children and these happen during our music singing assemblies; during class music lessons and during shows and concerts. Every child participates in at least three musicals during their time at Ashmount.

Ashmount also offers a wide range of extra-curricular music activities which are intended to help develop children’s enjoyment of music; develop their confidence; offer performance opportunities; develop ensemble playing skills and develop their instrumental and singing skills. Currently, we have a school choir (Years 2-6); a school orchestra (Years 3-6); recorder groups (Years 4,5,6); and a rock band for children in Year 6. In addition, we offer instrumental lessons after school with specialist peripatetic teachers, currently in drums, violin, guitar, saxophone, clarinet and piano. We also work closely with Arts venues and projects, such as the Guildhall, Barbican, London Symphony Orchestra and Music for Open Ears, so that the children experience working with professional musicians and hear live performances of music.

Art and Design

We encourage children’s artistic development from Nursery through to Year 6.

Our art curriculum aims to ensure that all pupils:

• Produce creative work, exploring their ideas and recording their experiences
• Become proficient in drawing, painting, sculpture and other art, craft and design techniques
• Evaluate and analyse creative works using the language of art, craft and design
• Know about great artists, craft makers and designers, and understand the historical and cultural development of their art forms.

Over time, children will develop their skills in:

• Drawing and painting
• 3D Art – this includes sculpture
• Digital Art

Each term of learning begins in the same way with children studying an artist’s work in detail. The artist will be chosen because their work is a strong example of a particular skill that we want the children to acquire.

Following a detailed understanding of the artist’s work, pupils will have the chance to imitate part of the artwork or skill demonstrated in the artworks. Once the pupils have developed confidence and skills to imitate what they have observed and understood, they innovate their own works using and applying the new knowledge and skills taught with freedom. Children are made aware of links with other subjects, particularly if it helps them to understand an artist more fully.

Design and Technology

Design and technology is largely a practical subject that allows children to use their imagination and creativity. Children acquire a wide range of skills during design and technology and learn how to become resourceful, innovative, enterprising and capable citizens.

Our design and technology curriculum aims to ensure that all pupils:

• Develop the creative, technical and practice expertise needed to perform everyday tasks confidently and to participate successfully in an increasingly technological world
• Build and apply a repertoire of knowledge, understanding and skills in order to design and make high-quality prototypes and products for a wide range of users
• Critique, evaluate and test their ideas and products and the work of others
• Understand and apply the principles of nutrition and learn how to cook.

By the time children reach the end of Year 6, they will have had many opportunities to design, make and evaluate their work whilst also developing the technical knowledge they need.

Curriculum Enhancement

Visits to art galleries including: The National Portrait Gallery, Tate Modern and The House of Illustration, amongst others are important to further inspire and motivate the children. All children visit an art gallery at least twice during their time at Ashmount.

We have after school art club and craft and design club which run at different times during the year.

Each year we have an Arts Week and a STEAM week which always produces some fantastic art and design and design and technology work, which we display in our small hall and host an exhibition which parents and carers are invited to.