KS1 Art and Design Curriculum (England)

The whole key stage 1 art and design programme of study from the national curriculum in England, with statutory and non-statutory parts clearly marked. Tick statements to plan a lesson.

Years
Year 1, Year 2
Ages
5–7
Statutory statements
4
Source
National curriculum in England: art and design
Last checked
2026-10-20

Current. The government response to the Curriculum and Assessment Review (Nov 2025) says a revised national curriculum will be published by spring 2027 for first teaching from September 2028.

Teaching one year group? Open its TIP: Year 1 Art and Design · Year 2 Art and Design.

Key stage 1 4 statutory statements

Pupils should be taught:

Key stage 1 Statutory

Pupils should be taught:

  • to use a range of materials creatively to design and make products
  • to use drawing, painting and sculpture to develop and share their ideas, experiences and imagination
  • to develop a wide range of art and design techniques in using colour, pattern, texture, line, shape, form and space
  • about the work of a range of artists, craft makers and designers, describing the differences and similarities between different practices and disciplines, and making links to their own work

Read the programme of study on GOV.UK

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Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: Department for Education, National curriculum in England: art and design programmes of study (GOV.UK), © Crown copyright.

Statements in the curriculum lists are copied word for word from GOV.UK; everything else on this page (headings, notes, summaries) is written by us. Classfern is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Department for Education or the Standards and Testing Agency. Always check the official documents linked on this page.

Questions teachers ask

What is in the KS1 art and design curriculum?

4 statutory statements in 1 section. Schools must teach the statutory content by the end of the key stage.