Laying good foundations? The value of art in the primary school

This paper will consider the value and position of art in the primary school in the context of the present time in English schools. The way in which children experience the subject is viewed as particularly important.

There are several reasons why this ought to be set out. The author trains primary teachers in art on several different training programmes offered by an English university. Discussions with the student teachers have not provided confidence that all is well in schools or that they feel adequately prepared to change to status quo as they begin their careers. For many years, the author has observed the quality of children’s art works found in the schools and also tried to support qualified teachers to find better ways of teaching the subject. What follows is therefore a personal view of the situation and the invitation is for others to look at the evidence base for these conclusions. Lastly, it is important to challenge others – especially teachers and teacher trainers – to consider how the future could be improved.