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Sir Thomas Abney Primary School

Design and Technology

“Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Design is knowing which ones to keep.” Scott Adams

INTENT

What do we teach? Why do we teach it?

At Sir Thomas Abney, Design and Technology is fully inclusive for every child; supporting them in becoming confident, inventive, creative and collaborative designers. We will:

  • fulfil the requirements of the National Curriculum for design and technology; 
  • provide a broad and balanced curriculum;
  • ensure the progressive development of knowledge and skills;
  • learn how to take risks, become more resourceful, innovative, enterprising and capable citizens.

Our aims of teaching design and technology in our school are to: 

-Develop creative, technical and imaginative thinking in children and to develop confidence to participate successfully in an increasingly technological world. 

-Enable children to talk about how things work and to develop their technical vocabulary and knowledge.

-Apply a growing body of knowledge, understanding and skills in order to design and make prototypes and products for a wide range of users. 

-Encourage children to select appropriate tools and techniques when making a product, whilst following safe procedures.

-Develop an understanding of technological processes and products, their manufacture and their contribution to our society.

-Foster enjoyment, satisfaction and purpose in designing and making things.

-Critique, evaluate and test their ideas and products, and the work of others.

-Understand and apply the principles of nutrition and to learn how to cook.

-Understand how key events and individuals in design and technology have helped shape the world. 

Beginning from their brilliant start in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) up until they leave for secondary school, we intend to inspire children to have a love of design technology that will continue throughout their education and future lives. As a practical, hands-on subject, design technology links with mathematics, science, computing and art and design, providing children the opportunity to apply their knowledge of these subjects to purposeful projects. 

For more details, please also see our: Design & Technology Curriculum Overview, Design & Technology National Curriculum.

IMPLEMENTATION

How do we teach Design & Technology and how does this look in practice?

To ensure high standards of teaching and learning in design and technology, we implement a curriculum that is progressive throughout the whole school. Design and technology is taught discreetly, focusing on knowledge and skills stated in the 2014 National Curriculum (using the Curriculum Maestro scheme of work). Teachers plan lessons for their class using our progression of knowledge and skills documents. Teachers use these documents to plan their design and technology lessons suitable to their class’s abilities. The progression document ensures the curriculum is covered and the skills/knowledge taught is progressive from EYFS to Year 6. All Design Technology lessons are designed to be inclusive, accessible and enjoyable for all and teaching staff will ensure additional support and resources are provided for children, when needed. 

In the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), children begin to develop important skills needed to become confident, imaginative and capable designers. Children will: 

  • Explore different media and materials: they will have the opportunity to explore and construct using a variety of different materials, tools and equipment with an intended purpose. (Expressive Arts and Design)
  • Be imaginative: children will explore a range of products, materials and ideas through role play and exciting projects linked to English and Mathematics. (Creating with Materials, Literacy & Mathematics)
  • Make links with ‘The World’ and ‘Technology’: children will explore how things work and be encouraged to develop their questioning skills, also building links with Computing and programming. (Understanding the World)

Within KS1 and KS2 each term, children are given the opportunity to explore an area of Design Technology linked to: Food and Nutrition, Mechanisms, Textiles and Materials and Components. Children will build on existing skills from previous topics and learn new skills through a range of exciting and challenging activities. 

Within each design and technology topic, children will participate in: 

  • Investigative Activities: children will explore how existing products work and how they have been made, linked to significant inventors. 
  • Focused Tasks: Children will have the opportunity to learn new skills and how to operate equipment safely and accurately. 
  • Design Work: Children will generate their own ideas linked to Design Briefs and create working drawings to support their making activities. 
  • Making Activities: Children will apply their skills to create an innovative and functional product, adapting their designs when challenges arise. The use of Computer Software (CAD) may also be used to develop components on their finished design. 
  • Evaluative Activities: Children will have the opportunity throughout their project to evaluate their own work and the work of others, drawing on new ideas and adapting their work to create the best product they possibly can.

IMPACT

By the time our children leave our school:

Within design and technology, we strive to prepare children to take part in the development of tomorrow’s rapidly changing world. We aim to encourage children to become creative problem solvers, both as individuals and as part of a team. Through the study of design and technology, children combine practical skills with an understanding of aesthetic, social and environmental issues, as well as of functions and industrial practices. This allows them to reflect on and evaluate present and past design and technology, its uses and its impact. Our design and technology curriculum is high quality, well thought out and is planned to demonstrate progression. We focus on progression of knowledge and skills and discreet vocabulary progression also form part of the units of work. Assessment of children's learning in Design & Technology is an ongoing monitoring of children's understanding, knowledge and skills throughout lessons by the class teacher. This assessment is then used to inform any adaptations, support and challenge required by the children. Most children will achieve age-related expectations in design technology within all year groups.

 

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