Design and Technology

Design and Technology at St Mary's

'Design and Technology should be the subject where mathematical brainboxes and science whizzkids turn their bright ideas into useful products and solutions.'

James Dyson

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. They 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, becoming 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. High-quality design and technology education makes an essential contribution to the creativity, culture, wealth and well-being of the nation.

The national curriculum for design and technology aims to ensure that all pupils:

develop the creative, technical and practical expertise needed to perform everyday tasks confidently and to participate successfully in an increasingly technological world
build and apply a repertoire of knowledge, understanding and skills in order to design and make high-quality prototypes and products for a wide range of users
critique, evaluate and test their ideas and products and the work of others
understand and apply the principles of nutrition and learn how to cook.

Key Documents

DT Knowledge Organisers

Intent:

At St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, our knowledge based curriculum is designed to build on children’s prior learning and experiences by fostering resilience, encouraging children’s thirst for new experiences and developing skills of enquiry. All children should have challenging, stimulating, creative and inspirational opportunities within Design and Technology, sequenced following the school’s curriculum map building on prior skills, knowledge and vocabulary. Children should work independently and have the opportunity to collaborate with others. We intend to develop the children’s creative, technical and practical expertise needed to perform everyday tasks confidently and to participate successfully in an increasingly technological world. We intend that every child can build and apply a repertoire of knowledge, understanding and skills in order to design and make high-quality prototypes and products for a wide range of users that solve real life problems.

At St Mary’s Catholic Primary School we endeavour to;

Develop imaginative thinking in children and to enable them to talk about what they like and dislike when designing and making.
To foster enjoyment, satisfaction and purpose in designing and making.
To provide a range of structured and appropriately-differentiated activities which develop a breadth of experience and progression in skills. Where possible, these will relate to the interests and everyday experiences of our pupils.
To develop knowledge and to teach skills in order to assist in the design and making of products successfully.
To develop the children’s knowledge of tools and to encourage children to select appropriate tools and techniques for making a product, whilst following safe procedures.
To help children become aware of and to investigate simple products through disassembly and evaluation.
To provide adequate time frames, access to information, skills and resources in order to develop an effective, useful and appropriate end-product.
To enable children to talk about how things work, and to draw and model their ideas;
To provide equal opportunities for access to tools and skills and to develop the qualities, aptitudes, skills and intelligences of individual pupils.
To use ICT to assist our designing and learning.

Implementation:

In Design and Technology, Teachers enable children apply their knowledge and understanding when developing ideas, planning and making products and then evaluating them. All ideas will be treated with respect. Design and Technology learning in the EYFS takes place within Understanding of the World and Expressive Art and Design and is based on the Early Years Outcomes Guidance for EYFS. The Design and Technology programme of study (for KS1 and KS2) is divided into 4 main areas:

Design
Pupils will design purposeful, functional, appealing products for themselves and other users based on design criteria that are fit for purpose and aimed at particular groups or individuals. Pupils will generate, develop model and communicate their ideas through discussions.
Make
Pupils will select from and use a range of tools and equipment to perform practical tasks. They will select from and use a wide range of materials and components, including construction materials, textiles and ingredients, according to their characteristics and functional properties.
Evaluate
Pupils will explore, evaluate, investigate and analyse a range of existing products. They will evaluate their ideas and products again design criteria and consider the views of others to improve their work.
Technical Knowledge
Pupils will build structures, explore how they can be made stronger and apply their understanding of how to strengthen, stiffen and reinforce structures. They will explore and use mechanical systems in their products. In KS2 they will understand and use electrical systems in the products.

Planning for KS1 and KS2 is organised in line with the frame work for Design and Technology as set out by the National Curriculum 2014. Planning in Nursery and Reception is based on the Early Outcomes documents for the EYFS. To promote positive attitudes to Design and Technology we provide the children with purposeful first hand experiences, practical lessons, a range of teaching styles and the advantage of the use of ICT (microscope / IWB / video / DVD as well as all the other resources available in school).

Impact:

Through individual and team endeavours, they will learn the necessity of clear planning, effective/efficient production, collaboration with others, self and peer-evaluation and flexibility. It will also provide them with opportunities to use computing skills in a range of practical applications. These skills will have a clear impact on their ability to function in the world of work at a later stage of their lives as well as in the classroom and local community. Additionally, they will learn to be resourceful and pro-active in everyday problem-solving situations through knowledge of the importance of flexibility of approach and through listening to the ideas of others. They will come to understand that they must take into consideration the function of the product and its users.