Designs on primary schools

About the school

This inner-city primary school has 205 children on the roll, most of whom live on the same estate. children come from diverse ethnic backgrounds and over half speak English as an additional language (22 languages are spoken in total). A quarter of the children are on the school’s register of special educational needs and over 40 per cent are eligible for free school meals.

The arts and design and technology in the school

The school places a particularly strong emphasis on the importance of creativity, which it aims to embed throughout children’s learning. This is reflected in the school’s teaching and learning policy and the environment, which is colourful, stimulating and celebrates the children’s art.

In line with the Excellence and Enjoyment document, the school believes strongly in real learning and takes every opportunity to make links between subjects, create connections with the world outside school and provide memorable experiences for children. They are encouraged to develop lively, enquiring minds through all of the arts subjects and design and technology. Every class goes on a visit each half-term that ties in with their topic – mostly to museums and galleries in London. Year 5 children have recently been working with dancers from the Royal Ballet. Some are currently involved in a drama project with a local secondary school.

Most art and design and technology work is cross-curricular and focuses on encouraging the children to express themselves imaginatively, taking pride in their work and the work of others. In drama, the emphasis is on giving children opportunities for self-expression and building their confidence through role-play, dance and mime. Performance opportunities are built into the school year, including at weekly family assemblies, Easter plays and a whole school poetry performance. Extra-curricular clubs give children opportunities to develop their interests in art and drama. A learning support mentor works with very able artists from the upper school.

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