Design and Technology

Intent

At Walton-on-Trent Primary School Design Technology should be fully inclusive to every child. We 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, to learn how to take risks, becoming resourceful, innovative, enterprising and capable citizens through evaluation of past and present design and technology, develop a critical understanding of its impact on daily life and the wider world, to participate successfully in an increasingly technological world using the language of design and technology.

The aims of teaching Design and Technology in our school are:

• 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 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.
• Children to be inspired to design and make items inside and outside of school.
• All children no matter their needs will have access to the History curriculum, including SEND, and EYFS.

Implementation

In order to achieve the aims outlined above, Design Technology is organised into topics across the school following the National Curriculum. These topics are set out for each class from our school led scheme and are used as a basis to help and support teacher planning, however teacher lesson design is not limited to. The teachers use creative and cross-curricular approaches as well as teaching the subjects independently. As we have mixed classes, we provide suitable learning for each year group this can be seen in our progression maps. Staff ensue they teach lessons engaging with indoor and outdoor learning this enable children to see different contexts and experience a broader choice of activities. Supporting their curiosity, critical thinking and enhancing their cultural capital. Through the year we aim to invite outside agencies in to support children’s learning in new ways and consolidate previous learning, e.g., a theatre company visit. Children will complete work in a range of ways to suit all learning needs, this will include working individually and in mixed ability groupings. Pupils study Art for one hour per week for three terms across the school year.

Within DT, we strive to create a supportive and collaborative ethos for learning by providing investigative and skills-based learning opportunities. Emphasis is placed on investigative learning opportunities to help children gain a coherent knowledge of understanding of each unit of work covered throughout the school.

We give children the opportunity to work by themselves and in collaboration with others, on projects in two and three dimensions, and at different scales. We ensure that children are given the opportunities to investigate, explore and develop ideas as well as evaluate, revisit and improve their work. Children also have the opportunity to use a wide range of materials and resources, including computer technology.

Impact 

Pupils’ attainment and progress in DT is measured against the objectives set in the national curriculum. Pupil progress is evident in DT books which shows a build-up of skills and knowledge throughout a unit of work and across year groups.

Within Design 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 and is planned to demonstrate progression. We focus on progression of knowledge and skills and discreet vocabulary progression.

We use lesson observations and learning walks to check learning and expectations.

Pupils’ attainment and progress is measured against the objectives set in the national curriculum and recorded by teachers using Sonar, this informs teachers, future activities, and parents