Art & Music

Art

He who works with his hands is a labourer. He who works with his hands and his head is a craftsman. He who works with his hands and his head and his heart is an artist Saint Francis of Assisi

At St. Martin’s we believe that all pupils can achieve in Art and Design; that high-quality Art lessons will inspire children to think innovatively and develop their creative procedural understanding. Our Art curriculum provides our children with opportunities to develop their skills using a range of media and materials. Our pupils learn the skills of drawing, painting, printing, collage, textiles, 3D work and digital art and they are given the opportunity to explore and evaluate different creative ideas. Through being introduced to a range of works our children develop a knowledge of the styles and vocabulary used by famous artists. The skills they acquire are applied to their cross-curricular topics, allowing our children to use their art skills to reflect on and explore topics in greater depth.

 It is paramount that art work be purposeful; be this as a means of expression or to explore the styles of other artists that inspire our own work. Pupils should be clear what the intended outcomes are and have a means to measure their own work against this. In Art, children are expected to be reflective and evaluate their work, thinking about how they can make changes and develop their mastery of Art and Design techniques.  Above all, we want our children to view themselves as artists and to recognise the positive impact that art can have on their mental wellbeing and development as well-rounded, creative people.

Music

Music produces a kind of pleasure which human nature cannot do without  Confucius

To provide a solid foundation of musical skills and a love of music for each child through high quality musical experiences, both within and outside of school

 At St Martin’s our intention is that children gain a firm understanding of what music is through listening, singing, playing, evaluating, analysing, and composing across a wide variety of historical periods, traditions and musical genres.

Our objective at St Martin’s is to develop a curiosity for the subject, as well as an understanding and acceptance of the importance of all types of music – especially as a form of prayer and worship to support our school’s Catholic ethos.

It is imperative that children enjoy music and begin to learn and appreciate the beauty and necessity of music in their lives. We are committed to ensuring that the children understand the importance of music as a valuable tool across the curriculum and throughout other subjects including drama, history, guided reading, RE and English. This ensures the children value music and are able to use their musical skills, knowledge and experiences in a variety of different contexts.

 Through the use of the Charanga Haringey Music Scheme of Work the pupils’ are built upon throughout each key stage and beyond the primary curriculum. St. Martin’s provides an engaging and ambitious music curriculum through sequenced lessons that are relevant to the children’s lives and learning. The lessons are pitched at the children’s ability level to allow them to further develop their fundamental knowledge and skills. This sequence of lessons challenges the pupils with a wide variety of tasks and experiences, keeping them engaged and allowing them to develop resilience and a deeper understanding of the skills embedded within the music national curriculum.