Today’s report delves into the factors that contribute to high-quality art education. It emphasizes the importance of a well-rounded art curriculum that draws from a variety of sources, including education inspection frameworks, art education research, art history, art criticism, aesthetics, and art practice. This comprehensive approach recognizes that art, craft, and design are vital subjects for all pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).
High-quality art education can have many benefits for students. It can help them to appreciate and interpret art, as well as to create it themselves. It can foster creativity, innovation, and critical thinking skills. Moreover, it can enrich students’ understanding of the world around them, exposing them to diverse forms of artistic expression from different cultures and time periods.
While there are many different ways to construct and teach a high-quality art curriculum, the report identifies some common features that schools may want to consider. These include:
- Clearly defined end goals that reflect the complexity, diversity, and plurality of the subject.
- Thoughtful decisions about what to include in the curriculum, based on subject-specific reasons.
- A curriculum that allows students to learn the fundamentals of art and express them in interesting and meaningful ways.
- A curriculum that builds practical, theoretical, and disciplinary subject-specific knowledge.
- A curriculum that exposes students to the diversity of art, craft, and design from around the world, including both traditional and contemporary forms.
- Sufficient training, support, and time for teachers to teach the curriculum effectively.
The report emphasizes that a high-quality art curriculum should be an integral part of every school’s educational program. As Amanda Spielman, Ofsted’s Chief Inspector, notes, “Art makes a significant contribution to our society through human innovation, imagination, and thought.” By providing students with a rigorous and engaging art education, schools can help to cultivate the next generation of creative thinkers and innovators.
Source: Gov[Dot]UK
