Connections Bursary: Researching Specialist Primary School Art CPD
Sue Gibbons
The Paul Mellon Centre provided me with funding to pay the costs of cover and some preparation time so I could visit and observe some primary school art lessons and then research and prepare a specialist CPD session for primary art leads and teachers. I focussed on material literacy informed by the You.Gov survey for art education provider Art-K published in May 2025 which raised the concern that 77% of primary school teachers have observed a decline in children’s fine motor skills over the last five years. I wanted to explore how art activities can build skills for both academic and personal growth and the impact this has on all learners, but particularly our most disadvantaged children, as they move through the key stages. It is clear that art and creative activities help children to develop patience, perseverance, creativity and the fine motor control that underpin their learning.
I ran the online Professional Development session for Primary Art Subject Leaders Wednesday 4th March alongside the Learning Alliance in South Gloucestershire. The aim was to explore a fresh and research informed approach to the Art curriculum. Drawing on my recent research around the workshop model at the University of Leeds, alongside examples of practical workshops from my own school, and contacts with organisations, museums and artists, I was able to offer approaches and progressive strategies to support pupils across the primary age range. I included opportunities for discussion, reflection on current practice, and plenty of ideas supported by resources to take back into school. I shared a PowerPoint full of links, starting points and resources at the end of the session.
12 schools were able to attend the live online presentation, and the session was recorded and made available to the whole learning alliance to allow for a wider reach. The session was very well received; there were plenty of questions and further discussions at the end with a lot of interest and 11 schools so far have requested to take part in the next stage of research.
I am really pleased to have secured further funding to continue my research with the primary schools. Next I will explore material literacy through the workshop model alongside drawing dens where we can challenge traditional ideas of drawing and create a space for innovation, curiosity and wonder. This should help children connect more with the materials in their hands and move away from a prescriptive approach to art lessons. I had planned to work with one school and share the research but following the interest from so many schools I may work with teachers who can then present the ideas in their own schools.