Design and Technology Curriculum

‘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.’ (National Curriculum, 2014)

 

Aims

 

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.

 

Curriculum Intent

 

At St. Martin’s C of E (VA) Primary School, we believe that Design and Technology prepares children to look forward and deal with a rapidly changing world. It encourages them to think imaginatively and become problem solvers who can work well independently and with their peers. To ensure our pupils are taught consistently to a high standard, we use Kapow’s Design Technology’s Schemes of Work.

 

Kapow Primary’s Design and technology scheme of work aims to inspire pupils to be innovative and creative thinkers, who have an appreciation for the product design cycle through ideation, creation, and evaluation. We want pupils to develop the confidence to take risks, through drafting design concepts, modelling, and testing and to be reflective learners who evaluate their work and the work of others. Through our scheme of work, we aim to build an awareness of the impact of design and technology on our lives and encourage pupils to become resourceful, enterprising citizens who will have the skills to contribute to future design advancements. Our scheme of work enables pupils to meet the end of key stage attainment targets in the national curriculum and the aims also align with those in the national curriculum.

Knowledge in Design Technology is defined as:

 

Substantive Knowledge -

 

Substantive knowledge in design and technology is based on the knowledge of four key elements of the process of design (design, make, evaluate and technical knowledge). All of these elements will be taught from Reception to Year 6 and vocabulary is taught explicitly and will be deliberately practised and applied through the 4 key elements. These are:

 

- Design- Know how to design a product that is purposeful, functional and appealing to a specific group.

- Make- Know how to cut, join and finish a range of increasingly complex materials, ranging from paper to wood.

- Evaluate- Know how to investigate, evaluate and analyse a range of existing products and their own designs based on a specific design criteria. In addition to this, children will know key individuals have helped to shape the world in which we live in.

- Technical knowledge- Know how to apply their knowledge of specific materials to meet the criteria listed above in the design, make and evaluate stages.

 

Disciplinary Knowledge -

 

This is the process of enabling children to use their substantive knowledge of products and materials around them to make links between and across different areas of the curriculum. Knowledge in design and technology will equip the children with the opportunity to explain how and why products have changed over time and how they might be further improved in the future. They can use their knowledge and understanding to suggest how existing products may be improved with the advances in modern technology. Children will demonstrate that they have the cultural capital to become global citizens, following global themes and fundamental British Values, in an ever changing and technologically advancing world.

 

Curriculum Implementation

 

Our Design and technology scheme has a clear progression of skills and knowledge across each year group. Our Progression of skills shows the skills that are taught within each year group and how these skills develop to ensure that attainment targets are securely met by the end of each key stage.

 

Through our Design and technology scheme, pupils respond to design briefs and scenarios that require consideration of the needs of others, developing their skills in six key areas:

 

- Mechanisms

- Structures

- Textiles

- Cooking and nutrition (Food)

- Electrical systems (KS2)

- Digital world (KS2)

 

Each of the key areas follows the design process (design, make and evaluate) and has a particular theme and focus from the technical knowledge or cooking and nutrition section of the curriculum.

 

EStrong subject knowledge is vital for staff to be able to deliver a highly effective and robust Design and technology curriculum. Each unit of lessons includes multiple teacher videos to develop subject knowledge and support ongoing CPD.

 

Curriculum Impact

 

The impact of teaching Design Technology can be constantly monitored summative assessment opportunities and each lesson includes guidance to support teachers in assessing pupils against the learning objectives.

 

After the implementation of Kapow Primary Design and technology, pupils should leave school equipped with a range of skills to enable them to succeed in their secondary education and be innovative and resourceful members of society.

 

The expected impact of following the scheme of work is that children will:

 

- Understand the functional and aesthetic properties of a range of materials and resources.

- Understand how to use and combine tools to carry out different processes for shaping, decorating, and manufacturing products.

- Build and apply a repertoire of skills, knowledge and understanding to produce high quality, innovative outcomes, including models, prototypes, CAD, and products to fulfil the needs of users, clients, and scenarios.

- Understand and apply the principles of healthy eating, diets, and recipes, including key processes, food groups and cooking equipment.

- Have an appreciation for key individuals, inventions, and events in history and of today that impact our world.

- Recognise where our decisions can impact the wider world in terms of community, social and environmental issues.

- Self-evaluate and reflect on learning at different stages and identify areas to improve.

- Meet the end of key stage expectations outlined in the National curriculum for Design and technology.

 

DT Subject Lead: Miss J. Moss