Design and Technology

Intent:

At our school, we believe that Design and Technology is an inspiring and practical subject that should provide children with a real-life context for learning. It encourages children to learn to think and intervene creatively to solve problems both as individuals and as members of a team. Our youngest children will be taught to used tools and techniques safely, given the opportunity to explore a variety of materials and share their creations giving solid foundations to their future learning.

At our school, children will be inspired by engineers, designers, chefs and architects to enable them to create a range of structures, mechanisms, textiles, electrical systems and food products with a real-life purpose.

We aim to, wherever possible, link work to other disciplines such as mathematics, science, computing and art. The children are also given opportunities to reflect upon and evaluate past and present design technology, its uses and its effectiveness and are encouraged to become the next generation of designers, innovators and risk-takers.

Curriculum Overview:

Through years 1 – 6, we follow a 2-year plan of design and technology topics to ensure that children are exposed to the full breadth of the subject on a repeated basis. These are taken from CUSP and personalised to meet the needs of our children.

Skills:

Pupils’ key skills are developed through ensuring that children have the opportunities to research, design, make and evaluate – developing understanding of the role that design and technology plays in our society as well as globally. They are exposed to a wide range of skills as designers through each topic that they study. Over time, they will become more confident and independent in using these skills to develop their own creations and ideas.

Enrichment:

It is important for children to see purpose in the skills that they learn, so we offer opportunities to develop these through planned projects. We also link up our learning with our Forest School experiences where possible, so children can see the practical application of their skills outside of the classroom.

Year A:

Year GroupAutumnSpringSummer 1Summer 2
1 & 2Food and nutritionUnderstanding materialsStructures – free standingStructures – freestanding with moving parts (
3& 4Food and nutritionSystems and Electrical systemsStructures
5& 6Food and nutritionSystems and Electrical systemsStructures

Year B:

Year GroupAutumnSpring 1Spring 2Summer
1 & 2TextilesMechanisms – Slides and leversMechanisms – axles and wheelsFood and nutrition
3& 4Textiles

 

MechanismsFood and nutrition
5& 6TextilesMechanismsFood and nutrition