Intent

At Coppice Academy, we believe that the arts play a vital role in enriching children's education, inspiring creativity, building confidence and helping every pupil to develop their unique talents. We are incredibly proud to have been awarded Artsmark Gold in September 2026, a nationally recognised accreditation from Artsmark that celebrates schools demonstrating an outstanding commitment to arts and cultural education. This prestigious award reflects the importance we place on providing high-quality experiences in art, music, drama, dance and the wider creative arts, ensuring that every child has opportunities to explore, create and express themselves throughout their time with us. Our broad and inspiring curriculum encourages pupils to think imaginatively, take creative risks and develop an appreciation of the diverse artistic world around them.

As part of our commitment to nurturing young artists and creative thinkers, we are also a proud          Arts Award Centre. Two members of our staff are trained Arts Award Advisers and support pupils whose work is moderated as they work towards achieving their Arts Award Discover or Arts Award Explore qualifications. Arts Award is a nationally recognised programme that encourages young people to engage with the arts, develop creative skills, experience cultural opportunities and share their artistic journeys with others. Through this exciting programme, pupils are able to reflect on their learning, celebrate their achievements and gain a deeper understanding of the arts. Pupils who successfully complete their award receive an official certificate from Trinity College London, recognising their creativity, commitment and personal development. Through both Artsmark and Arts Award, we are proud to champion the arts and provide meaningful opportunities for every child to flourish creatively.

Implementation

Art and Design is often taught in a block week, termly, which allows pupils the time to fully focus on an art or design project. We use the Kapow scheme of work to teach art and design.  The Kapow Art and Design curriculum is structured around five interconnected strands that run throughout the primary phase: generating ideas, using sketchbooks, making skills (including the formal elements of art), knowledge of artists, and evaluating and analysing. These strands are taught through a progressive sequence of units covering drawing, painting and mixed media, sculpture and 3D, and craft and design, enabling pupils to build knowledge and skills systematically from Year 3 to Year 6. Progression is carefully sequenced so that pupils revisit and deepen their understanding of artistic techniques, vocabulary and concepts, to ensure increasingly sophisticated, independent and purposeful artistic outcomes by the end of Year 6. The scheme develops both practical artistic techniques and a deeper understanding of artists, cultures and creative processes, ensuring clear progression and full National Curriculum coverage.

The evidence of their work is collected within the child’s sketchbook. Photographs of larger, group or 3D pieces are also kept within this sketchbook and displayed in classrooms and corridors. We have a well-resourced art room for pupils to be able to work on installations and 3D sculpture projects. Pupils are also able to attend an art club and an arts residential trip to Tattenhall is offered biannually for Year 4 and 5 pupils. We work with Creative Education Partnerships and our school welcomes a number of Artists in Residence to work alongside pupils and staff throughout the year.

Impact

Our children enjoy the self-expression that they experience in Art and Design. They are always keen to learn new skills and work hard to perfect those shown to them. The children’s art is often cross-curricular, and helps them to express feelings and emotions in art, as well as show their knowledge and understanding in history, geography and science. By the end of their time at school learners will be competent in using the formal elements: line, shape, form, tone, texture, pattern, colour and composition. They will have learnt a variety of painting, printing, sculpting, drawing and mixed media techniques and be in the process of developing their personal style.

The children’s artwork is celebrated across the school and publicly, being displayed in the corridors around the whole building, on the school website gallery and the local gallery The Core.