Design Technology

Intent

The Design and technology scheme of work aims to inspire pupils to be innovative and creative thinkers who have an appreciation for the product design cycle. We want pupils to develop the confidence to take risks, through drafting design concepts, modelling, and testing and to be reflective learners who evaluate their work and the work of others. We aim to build an awareness of the impact of design and technology on our lives and encourage pupils to become resourceful, enterprising citizens who will have the skills to contribute to future design advancements.

Implementation

The Design and technology National curriculum outlines the three main stages of the design

process: design, make and evaluate. Each stage of the design process is underpinned by

technical knowledge which encompasses the contextual, historical, and technical understanding required for each strand. Cooking and nutrition focuses on specific

principles, skills and techniques in food, including where food comes from, diet and seasonality.

The Design and technology curriculum is organised under four strands:

Design, Make, Evaluate, and Technical knowledge. Pupils respond to design briefs and scenarios in order to develop their skills within each of the strands. Each of the key areas follows the design process (design, make and evaluate) and has a particular theme and focus from the technical knowledge or cooking and nutrition section of the curriculum. The curriculum is a spiral curriculum, with key areas revisited again and again with increasing complexity, allowing pupils to revisit and build on their previous learning.

Lessons incorporate a range of teaching strategies from independent tasks, paired and group work including practical hands-on, computer-based and inventive tasks. Differentiated guidance is available for every lesson to ensure that they can be accessed by all pupils and opportunities to stretch pupils’ learning are available when required. Knowledge organisers for each unit support pupils in building a foundation of factual knowledge by encouraging recall of key facts and vocabulary.

Teachers are supported in delivering the curriculum through exemplars, videos and materials to develop subject knowledge.

Design & Technology is taught in half termly blocks, with each block comprising of 6 lessons. The Design & Technology curriculum is sequenced in such a way as to complement learning in Art & Design and Computing.

Impact

The impact of the curriculum is continually monitored through both summative and formative assessment. Each lesson includes opportunities for assessing pupils against the learning objectives and each unit is informally assessed using quizzes and knowledge organisers.

Children will:

• understand the aesthetic and functional properties of a range of materials           and resources.
• understand how to use tools for shaping, decorating and manufacturing products.
• Develop skills, knowledge and understanding to produce high quality, innovative outcomes, including models, prototypes, CAD, and products to fulfil the needs of users.
• Understand and apply the principles of healthy eating, diets, and recipes, including key processes, food groups and cooking equipment.
• Have an appreciation for key individuals, inventions, and events in history and of today that impact our world.
• Recognise where our decisions can impact the wider world in terms of community, social and environmental issues.
• Self-evaluate and reflect on learning at different stages and identify areas to improve.
• Meet the end of key stage expectations outlined in the National curriculum for Design and technology.