Design and Technology

Intent

At St John's our Design and Technology curriculum provides children with a real-life context for learning. Our aim is to create an inspiring, rigorous and practical subject that encourages children’s creativity and imagination. Through the DT curriculum, children should be inspired by engineers, designers, chefs and architects to enable them to create a broad range of structures, mechanisms, textiles, electrical systems and food products with a real-life purpose. We want children to develop a variety of skills and subject knowledge, whilst drawing on the disciplines such as mathematics, science, engineering, computing and art. Children are given opportunities to reflect on their work and creations against past and present design technology and evaluate the use and effectiveness. It is our intent to provide all of our children with the opportunities to succeed, no matter what starting point or barriers. Any obstacles or encounters are seen as steppingstones and we seek to provide opportunities for all learners, including those who are disadvantaged, SEND, EAL, PP and GD.

Implementation

All teaching of DT throughout St John’s should follow the design, make and evaluate cycle. Each stage should be rooted in technical knowledge. The design process should be rooted in real life, relevant contexts to give meaning to learning. While making, children should be given choice and a range of tools to choose freely from. To evaluate, children should be able to evaluate their own products against a design criteria. Each of these steps should be rooted in technical knowledge and vocabulary. DT should be taught to a high standard where each of the stages should be given equal weight. There should be evidence in each of these stages in DT books and folders which should also develop to show clear progression across the key stages as they are passed up through each year group.

In EYFS this looks like:

• handling equipment and tools effectively;
• the safe use and exploration of a variety of materials, tools and techniques;
• experimentation with colour, design, texture and function;
• using what they have learnt about media and materials to think about different uses and purposes and representing their own thoughts and feelings through Design Technology.

In KS1 this looks like:

Design:

• Design should be rooted in real life, relevant contexts to give meaning to the learning;
• Planned through appropriate and consistent formats: drawing, templates, talking and mock-ups;

Make:

• Children should be given a range of tools for their project to choose from;
• Children should use a wide range of materials and components: textiles, construction equipment and ingredients.

Evaluate:

• Evaluate existing products;
• Evaluate their own products against design criteria.
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In KS2 this looks like:

Design:

• Rooted in real life, relevant contexts to give meaning to the learning;
• Researched deigns based on functional, appealing products with purpose;
• Planned by appropriate methods: annotated sketches, cross-sectional diagrams, prototypes, pattern pieces and computer aided design.

Make:

• Children can select from a wider range of tools than KS1;
• Children should use and select from a wider range of materials and components: textiles, construction equipment and ingredients.

Evaluate:

• Evaluations should be in comparison to existing products;
• Children should evaluate against a design criteria;
• Children should understand how key events and individuals have helped shape design and technology globally.

Impact 

The Design and Technology Curriculum will:

• Provide opportunities for all children to collaborate, learn from, understand and react to each other’s perspectives and strengths.
• Create an enjoyable, engaging academic outlet for children who may find traditional subjects challenging.
• Give children an insight into how physical products can be created and an understanding of basic concepts used in everyday items.   
• Set a firm foundation of subject skills to create a smooth transition to KS3.
• Children will move through, and leave the school, with the confidence that they can design, make and change products and items and belief that qualifications and careers incorporating D&T are within their capability