Design and Technology
Intent
At St. Andrew’s we aim to provide all children with a broad and balanced curriculum which prepares them for life beyond primary education. We encourage children to use their creativity and imagination, to design and make products that solve real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts, considering their own and others’ needs, wants and values. Design and Technology is an inspiring, rigorous and practical subject. It can be found in many of the objects children use each day and is a part of children’s immediate experiences. Design and Technology encourages children to learn to think and intervene creatively to solve problems both as individuals and as
members of a team.
At St. Andrew’s the Design and Technology curriculum combines skills, knowledge, concepts and values to enable children to tackle real problems. It can improve analysis, problem solving, practical capability and evaluation skills. The children are encouraged to become innovators and evaluators.
High-quality Design and Technology education makes an essential contribution to the creativity, culture, wealth and well-being of our pupils here at St Andrews.
Implementation
Through a variety of creative and practical activities, we teach the knowledge, understanding and skills needed to engage in the process of designing and making. The children will design products for a range of purposes. When designing and making, the children are taught to:
Design
- Use research and develop design criteria to inform the design of innovative, functional, appealing products that are fit for purpose, aimed at particular individuals or groups.
- Generate, develop, model and communicate their ideas through discussion, annotated sketches, cross-sectional diagrams, prototypes, pattern pieces and computer-aided design.
Make
- Select from and use a wider range of tools and equipment to perform practical tasks (for example, cutting, shaping, joining and finishing) accurately.
- Select from and use a wider range of materials and components, including construction materials, textiles and ingredients, according to their functional properties and aesthetic qualities.
- Prepare and cook a variety of predominantly savoury dishes using a range of cooking techniques.
Evaluate
- investigate and analyse a range of existing products
- evaluate their ideas and products against their own design criteria and consider the views of others to improve their work
- understand how key events and individuals in design and technology have helped shape the world
Technical knowledge
- Apply their understanding of how to strengthen, stiffen and reinforce more complex structures.
- Understand and use mechanical systems in their products.
- Understand and use electrical systems in their products.
- Apply their understanding of computing to program, monitor and control their
products. - Understand and apply the principles of a healthy and varied diet.
- Understand seasonality, and know where and how a variety of ingredients are grown, reared, caught and processed.
Through the Kapow scheme of work key skills and key knowledge for DT have been mapped across the school to ensure progression between year groups. This also ensures that there is a context for the children’s work in Design and Technology; that they learn about real life structures and the purpose of specific examples, as well as developing their skills throughout the programme of study.
Impact
Our Design and Technology curriculum is planned to demonstrate progression and build on and embed current skills. We focus on progression of knowledge and skills in the different areas of DT and measure the impact of our curriculum using the following methods:
Children can:
- 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 products for a wide range of users, evaluate and test their ideas and products and the work of others.
- Understand and apply the principles of nutrition and learn how to cook.
- Produce a good quality finish, appropriate to the age and ability of the child.
Children learn how to take risks and become resourceful. 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.