The curriculum for art, craft and design in schools has improved, but children are being turned off the subject by a narrow focus on fine art and doubts about their ability to draw, an Ofsted report has found.

The survey of 91 primaries, 86 secondaries and seven special schools between 2008 and 2011 found that two-fifths of primaries and three-fifths of secondaries had good or outstanding provision.

However, the watchdog’s accompanying report warns that the limited provision for professional development has not been addressed, with teachers’ in-school training focusing on issues such as literacy, assessment and behaviour management. It adds that trying to implement whole-school approaches to assessment has a negative effect on art lessons, with self- or peer-assessment activities too often being poorly managed and not helping pupils to develop their ideas or skills.

The report also looked at the links between teaching and art galleries and found that pupils’ experiences of visiting art galleries varied school by school. The survey found that one in three primaries made sure that all pupils visited a gallery, but only one in seven secondaries did so.

The report also pointed out that in half of primary schools where pupils began at a high standard, progress was not maintained because time was limited in Years 5 and 6 - something critics may put down to the pressure of Sats.

33% - In a third of the primary schools surveyed, more able pupils had access to art clubs.

2 - Only two of the 91 primary schools visited had a male subject leader in art.