In This Section
The Arts
‘Creativity is contagious, pass it on!’ (Albert Einstein)
THLT Art Exhibition - July 2025
We were proud to host The Hawksmoor Learning Trust Art Exhibition at Chantry House, Towcester - a vibrant showcase of creativity inspired by the rich and diverse cultures of Africa. This year’s theme sparked imagination across all year groups, encouraging children to explore its landscapes, wildlife, patterns, and traditions through art.
Each school took a unique journey—studying African artists, traditional crafts, and symbolic meanings—to create thoughtful, colourful, and expressive pieces. From bold tribal patterns and striking animal portraits and models to intricate beadwork and storytelling through collage, the children’s work beautifully captured the spirit and beauty of this extraordinary continent.
The exhibition brought together families, friends, and the wider community to celebrate the talents of our young artists. It was more than an art show—it became an opportunity to honour heritage, spark curiosity, and embrace the power of global learning.
Visitors were treated to an inspiring and joyful experience as they explored Africa through the eyes of our children. We even had local budding violinists to provide some music on entry. The event was a true celebration of colour, creativity, and pride.
Artsmark
The school is currently working towards Artsmark.
The visual and performing arts are integral to the creative ethos adopted at The Radstone. We are passionate about the expressive contribution engagement in the arts makes to pupils' learning both academically and holistically. Across the Arts, skill development, creative thinking and independent learning inform a broad and stimulating curriculum.
Our aim is to encourage pupils to use the Arts to express their own voice. With specialist practitioners for the Arts we strive to challenge artistic boundaries thus offering pupils the opportunity to recognise themselves as artists too.
Experiencing and engaging with artistic practitioners first hand is an important part of learning here. Many arts trips and events are organised to support and inform pupils' critical and creative development.
Art & Design
‘All children are artists.’ (Pablo Picasso)
Curriculum Intent
At The Radstone Primary School we place great value in Art and Design and the opportunities that it provides for our children to be creative and to express themselves. We deliver an exciting and engaging broad and balanced art curriculum in which we ensure children develop the knowledge and skills needed to be successful artists.
Children are given the opportunity to work with a range of mediums including; drawing, painting, printmaking, collage, textiles and 3D. The art curriculum has been structured to support children to be able to think critically and develop a more rigorous understanding of Art and Design. As children progress through the school, the art curriculum allows them to build upon prior knowledge and skills, giving them the confidence and opportunities to apply them to a new context.
Through hands on experiences we aim to create a love of art in which children are inspired by artists from different cultures, periods and who specialise in different art forms. Our children have opportunities to develop techniques using a range of mediums and can talk with confidence about their work. At The Radstone Primary School we aim for children to leave Year 6 with the knowledge, skills and a love of art which will enable them to be creative young adults.
The aims of teaching art and design in our school are:
- To engage, inspire and challenge pupils, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to experiment, invent and create their own works of art, craft and design.
- As pupils progress through school, they should begin to think critically and develop a more rigorous understanding of art and design. They should also know how art and design both reflect and shape our history, and contribute to the culture, creativity and wealth of our nation.
- To produce creative work, exploring their ideas and recording their experiences.
- To become proficient in drawing, painting, sculpture and other art, craft and design techniques.
- To evaluate and analyse creative works using the language of art, craft and design.
- To know about great artists, craft makers and designers, and understand the historical and cultural development of their art forms.
Implementation
At The Radstone, Art and Design is a fundamental part of teaching and learning and is taught from EYFS to Year 6.
Children in the Early Years are encouraged to explore and use a range of media and materials whilst also developing their creativity, imagination and critical thinking. This is the foundation on which learning is developed throughout the school.
We have designed a curriculum that builds on children’s artistic knowledge and develops their artistic skills. In addition, we refer to the National Curriculum to support our planning and teaching of Art and Design in Years 1- 6. We have carefully structured this to ensure progression as a child journeys through the school.
Each child has a sketchbook. We give the child ownership of their sketchbook in order to foster their sense of creativity. Children use their sketchbooks to make initial sketches, develop skills, record ideas and develop opinions.
Quality time has been invested into the subject which enables the children to really develop their artwork. Art and Design is taught weekly throughout the year within a dedicated art room by a specialist art teacher allowing for progress to be identified easily and also ensures that the children receive a well sequenced knowledge rich curriculum. In addition to art lessons, children are also given the opportunity to join various art clubs.
EYFS
Through Expressive Arts children are encouraged to explore different media, explore how media can be combined to create different effects and develop a range of skills and techniques experimenting with colour, design, texture, form and function. Children are given daily access to a range of creative opportunities and enjoy our carefully planned and well-resourced creative areas both indoors and out. Children are encouraged to create on both small and large scales and our outdoor environment supports this well. Children are encouraged to develop their communication and language skills through talking about their creations and sharing these with others to build confidence and raise self-esteem.
Key Resource
National Curriculum Art & Design
Impact
Our vision is to foster in children a love of Art and develop creativity. Pupil voice is an important part of our assessment allowing us to continually reflect upon our Arts curriculum and our offer of extra-curricular activities.
Formative assessment is used to move children’s learning forward in Art and to inform next steps. Summative assessments take place on a termly basis and attainment is tracked against National Curriculum expectations. This allows us to inform and address any trends or gaps in attainment.
Our Art and Design curriculum will also lead pupils to be enthusiastic Art and Design learners, evidenced in a range of ways, including pupil voice, their final pieces and sketchbooks. We ensure that children who are achieving well, as well as those who need additional support, are identified, and additional provision and strategies are planned in and discussed with class teachers. Achievements are celebrated in classrooms during walking-galleries and corridor displays, and by building in increasing connections with the local community, we aim to develop our future artists and their appreciation of the art around them.
Key Information
Art and Design Curriculum Overview
Dance
‘I do not try to dance better than anyone else. I only try to dance better than myself.’ (Mikhail Baryshnikov)
Dance and movement play a vital part in the development of young children into confident, coordinated and well adjusted individuals. At The Radstone Primary School we believe it is an essential element in providing a broad and balanced programme for all children. Dance is viewed as an integrating activity that combines thinking, feeling and doing. We use a variety of teaching and learning styles in our lessons. There are opportunities for children of all abilities to develop their skills. We believe dance enhances social awareness, flexibility, grace and the ability to work as part of a team, supporting each other’s ideas.
Music
At The Radstone Primary School, music provides a creative outlet for all children to explore and make sounds, both individually and together. From the very youngest to the very oldest, children learn about instruments, composers, song, rhythm, timing, pitch and control through high-quality teaching in singing and playing instruments.
“Where words fail, music speaks.” — Hans Christian Andersen
Curriculum Intent
Music is seen as the most natural thing in the world and makes our school a vibrant and happy place while creating children who can express themselves with maturity and confidence.
- Music provides a creative outlet for all children to explore sound individually and together.
- Pupils will learn about instruments, composers, song, rhythm, timing, pitch and control through high-quality teaching of singing and playing instruments.
- We want pupils to express themselves with maturity and confidence through music, and to develop a lifelong appreciation of diverse musical traditions.
- We aim for pupils to perform, compose, listen, and appraise — thus developing musical skills, cultural understanding, and creative thinking.
- We seek to connect music to broader experiences (visiting musicians, cultural links, performances, cross-curricular links) to deepen meaning and aspiration.
Implementation
We have a choir and musical club, while many children also learn to play instruments across the full range of musical families – brass, woodwind, percussion, strings, guitar, keyboards and singing.
For the last few years, we have participated in a Wider Opportunities programme provided by the Northamptonshire Music and Performing Arts Service, where a whole year group becomes brass instrument players for 10 weeks. Over a year, pupils take part in seasonal performances, musical assemblies, the Northamptonshire Arts Festival, and our school gala evening.
Children also have many rich opportunities to visit places like Birmingham Symphony Hall and to welcome visiting musicians into school who bring music from other cultures to life.
- Music is taught by specialist practitioners from Reception through Year 6.
- Pupils engage in a broad range of instruments and musical families (brass, woodwind, percussion, strings, guitar, keyboards) as well as singing.
- We participate in a Wider Opportunities programme (e.g. whole year groups playing brass instruments for a period) to ensure equitable access to instrumental learning.
- Regular performances, seasonal concerts, assemblies, music clubs, and musical showcases provide opportunities for pupils to present their work.
- Visiting musicians, workshops, and cultural music encounters (bringing music from other cultures alive) are embedded into the curriculum.
- Pupils are exposed to musical traditions from various cultures and periods, to build cultural capital and widen musical horizons.
- We liaise closely between specialist music staff and classroom teachers to maintain continuity, progression, and integration with other areas of the curriculum.
- Private/peripatetic lessons (e.g. via NMPAT, external providers) are available, though optional and often with associated costs, to enrich individual learning.
Impact
- Pupils show progressive development in musical skills across listening, composing and performing.
- Pupils demonstrate an enthusiasm for music, often engaging beyond the classroom through clubs, practice, and performance.
- Increased cultural awareness and appreciation through exposure to diverse musical traditions and composers.
- Pupils' confidence and self-expression improve through regular performance and ensemble work.
- Pupils work collaboratively and show improved teamwork, communication, discipline, and resilience through music-making.
- School musical life (concerts, workshops, external performances) provides evidence of pupil achievement and pride.
- Impact is assessed through pupil voice, teacher observation, recordings, composition portfolios, and performances.
- Pupils leave school with a solid foundation of musical knowledge and skills, ready to pursue further musical opportunities with confidence.
Key Information
TRPS Music Development Plan 2025-26
Music Lessons
We are lucky to have a variety of different music teachers, which attend The Radstone. These are:
- NMPAT - Guitar, Brass, Strings, Piano
- Funkey Singers - Group Singing lessons and Piano
- Rocksteady - Rock Band
These all run music lessons for your child, with a cost.
- To book your child in for music lessons, please visit :
- NMPAT : Music - NMPAT
- Funkey Singers : 🎶Funkeys Music School🎶 | Facebook
- Rocksteady : Information for Parents | Rocksteady Music School
Art Progression of Skills Overview