The Arts

The Arts

Creativity is openly encouraged in all subjects at Barfield, and none more so than in the Arts.

Whether it is a child presenting their very own personal interpretation of a Space portrait in Art, or a pneumatic truck in Design Technology, the children will all be encouraged to develop their imagination and creative skills. Through the Drama & Music programmes on offer the children also enjoy the opportunity to perform their pieces in front of friends and family at regular intervals.

Within the art themes there is provision for all the visual elements to be covered. Some of these art themes also allow for cross curricular links to take place. In Year Three the theme of “Rainbows” links with both literacy and science. The joint music and art topic of 'The Samba' allows for exciting work to take place by Year Five children. 

All children are taught to work through the creative process and to this end are supplied with sketchbooks. These also allow them to explore ideas, techniques, hone skills and develop ways of presenting work aesthetically.

Arts week, visiting artists and trips to galleries, museums and exhibitions help to enhance the art curriculum and inspire children to explore, experiment and create outside the art room. The annual Barfield Art Show is a celebration of the students’ artistic endeavours and all children from the Nursery through to Year Eight have at least one piece exhibited at this colourful event. 

Those children who have a particular love for the subject are invited to attend the Boosters Group which focuses on developing skills and/ or Friday lunch time Art Club which provides opportunities for young artists to explore their own ideas.  

In Year 3 the children learn about two dimensional nets, accurate measuring of materials and joining methods.  They are also taught to use tools safely and correctly.  They learn about simple linkages and levers and how they can be used to control movement, as well as many other small projects.

In Year 6, as the children progress up the school, they are made more aware of the importance of the design process.  They learn graphical techniques such as isometric projection and orthographic drawing.  They look at the construction of bridges, and design their own fairground ride.  They are taught more advanced systems when they design a pneumatically controlled tipper truck, as well as taking a look at recycling.

The projects detailed above are all taught with the children’s safety in mind and, as such, before any work with tools is undertaken, a full briefing and demonstration is carried out.

Wide Range of Projects:

  • Resistant Materials
  • Graphics
  • Textiles
  • Systems & Control
  • Food