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Design & Technology

‘But God made the earth by his power; he founded the world by his wisdom and stretched out the heavens by his understanding.’

Jeremiah 10:12

Design and Technology is an inspiring, rigorous and practical subject that helps to prepare pupils for the developing world. It encourages pupils to become independent, creative problem-solvers, as individuals and as part of a team. Our high-quality DT curriculum will give pupils the opportunity to reflect critically on past and present and develop an understanding of its impact on daily life and the wider world, to equip pupils for tomorrow’s rapidly changing world. It supports pupils in developing a greater awareness and understanding of how everyday products are designed and made.

We endeavour to ensure that Design and Technology develops pupils’ practical skills as well as the understanding of aesthetic, social and environmental issues. We want our pupils to be curious and become innovators, risk takers and courageous advocates and will support their development of critical analysis, problem solving, practical capability and evaluation skills. Design and Technology will support all pupils to become discriminating and informed consumers and potential innovators.

Taking into consideration the needs of our pupils and the context of the community, the aims of Design and Technology in our school are:

To develop curiosity, imaginative thinking, practical expertise and confidence in pupils
To foster enjoyment, satisfaction and purpose in designing and making
To encourage pupils to participate successfully in an increasingly technological world and to inspire future interest in the subject
To study the designs and the significance of structures and technology globally and in our local area.
To use ICT software to assist our designing and learning
To instil a love of cooking and encourage pupils to express human creativity as they acquire crucial life skills and apply the principles of nutrition and healthy eating.

What do we teach? What does this look like?

Our whole curriculum is shaped by our school vision which aims to enable all pupils, regardless of background, ability or additional needs, to truly flourish and achieve their full potential.

We teach the National Curriculum for DT discretely and make links, where appropriate, to our class topics. This is supported by clear knowledge and skills progression which ensures that skills and knowledge are built upon each year and sequenced appropriately to maximise learning for all pupils.

All teaching of DT should follow the, design, make and evaluate cycle. Each stage should be rooted in technical knowledge. The design process should be and iterative process that is rooted in real life, with relevant contexts to give meaning to learning. To evaluate, pupils should be able to evaluate their own products against a design criteria.

Each of these steps should be rooted in technical knowledge and vocabulary.

The key domains we teach:

Textiles
Cooking and Nutrition
Mechanisms (including mechanical systems and electrical systems)
Structures
Sliders &Levers.

Pupils will acquire a broad range of subject knowledge and draw on disciplines such as mathematics, science, engineering, computing and art. Pupils learn how to take risks, become resourceful innovative, enterprising and capable citizens. Through the evaluation of past and present design and technology, they develop a critical understanding of its impact on daily life and the wider world.

At the start of each project, teachers assess pupils’ prior knowledge and adapt the lesson accordingly. Formative assessment of pupils’ work is on-going to ensure knowledge is applied to skills and progress is being made. A summative assessment is made at the end of the year, on Target Tracker. This information is then shared with the pupils’ new teachers, for the following year, in our Transfer of Information meetings.

By the time children leave our school in KS2 they will have:

Experienced a range of practical and creative lessons and will know how to design, make and evaluate products which will help to prepare them for the next stage in their education and life.
The ability to cook a healthy diet to feed themselves and others affordably and well, now and in later life.
The ability to use time efficiently and work constructively and productively with others.
The ability to carry out thorough research, show initiative and ask questions to develop knowledge of users’ needs.
The ability to act as responsible designers and makers, working ethically, using finite materials carefully and working safely.
A thorough knowledge of which tools, equipment and materials to used to make their products.
The ability to apply mathematical knowledge and skills accurately.
The ability to manage risks exceptionally well to manufacture products safely and hygienically.
A passion for the subject.