Design Technology Curriculum
‘Design and technology is an inspiring, rigorous and practical subject. Using creativity and imagination, pupils design and make products that solve real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts, considering their own and others’ needs, wants and values. …. High-quality design and technology education makes an essential contribution to the creativity, culture, wealth and well-being of the nation.’ National Curriculum 2014
Intent, Implementation and Impact
Intent
Our school believes Design and technology to be of great importance in our rapidly changing world. We aim to encourage children to think creatively in order to solve problems, build skills in order to execute their ideas and develop resilience in order to overcome difficulties, modify their plans and make improvements to their creations. We aim to encourage children to be analytical and critical, to talk about how things work, and to draw and model their ideas and to encourage children to select appropriate materials, tools and techniques for making a product. The teaching of Design and technology enables children to combine practical skills with an understanding of aesthetic, social and environmental issues, as well as functions and industrial practices. This allows them to reflect on, and evaluate, present and past design and technology, its uses and impacts. Above all we aim to foster enjoyment, satisfaction and purpose in designing and making things.
Implementation
Design Technology is mainly taught in intensive blocks, three times a year for each class. This allows the children to develop their work more efficiently. Each year there will be a focus on each of the three main areas: food, textiles and structures /mechanisms /electronics. The design brief is chosen to link with the topics being covered in class, along with the age and skills of the pupils.
Pupils, of all ages, are taught to investigate and learn from real-life designs and how they affect our world. They are encouraged to work through a process of: creating ideas to fit a design brief; evaluating these for effect and practicality; use tools safely and develop their skills; constantly problem-solving, refining and improving their designs and then giving thoughtful evaluations which provide targets for future learning.
Impact
By the time they leave our school, children will have an understanding of how design and technology impacts our lives, and appreciate the technology in the world around them. They will have the skills and confidence to tackle design-related problems in a creative, safe way, including appropriate use of computing, where appropriate. They will be able to refine and improve their creations, be proud of their achievements, and apply their skills out of school.