Design and Technology

Intent

At Staincliffe C of E Junior School our Design and Technology curriculum is an inspiring, rigorous and practical subject that prepares children to deal with tomorrow’s rapidly changing world and develops links with our other subjects such as mathematics, science, computing and art. It encourages children to become independent; think creatively and solve problems both as individuals and as members of a team. We encourage children to use their creativity and imagination to design and make products that solve real yet relevant problems within a variety of contexts, considering their own and other’s needs.

Through the study of Design and Technology, children will combine practical skills with an understanding of aesthetic, social and environmental issues, as well as functions and industry. This allows them to reflect on and evaluate past and present technology. Children are encouraged to investigate and analyse; evaluate their ideas and products against their own design criteria and respect the views of others. They are challenged to show courage to become innovators and risk takers in order to become masters of technological design.

Implementation

To ensure high standards of teaching and learning in Design & Technology, we implement a curriculum that is progressive throughout the whole school. Design & Technology is taught as part of a termly topic, focusing on skills and knowledge stated in the National Curriculum and in areas specific to the need of our children. Our skills-focused Design and Technology curriculum is delivered through the Kapow scheme. Alongside classroom based learning, a variety of opportunities for trips and visitors enhance our children’s independent learning skills through real-life experiences.

Our curriculum provides:

• A ‘Design – Make – Evaluate’ progressive sequence of knowledge and skill development within the following key areas:
  • Structures
  • Mechanisms
  • Electrical Systems
  • Cooking and Nutrition
  • Textiles
• Clear understanding of the technical knowledge needed to be an effective designer, maker and evaluator

To track the progress of our designers, we:

• Create Knowledge Organisers which outline knowledge, including vocabulary, all children must master and apply in lessons.
• Utilise Vocabulary and Progression of Skills documents to inform the D&T Assessment Grids
• ‘Challenge Questions’ for pupils to apply learning in a philosophical / open manner
• Capture ‘Pupil Voice’ at regular intervals

Impact

By the time they leave us, as designers, our children will have:

• An understanding of what being a ‘designer’ means.

• A passion for design and technology and an enthusiastic engagement in learning, which develops their love for creativity, problem solving and imagination

• The ability to think creatively and solve problems

• A desire to embrace challenging activities, including reflecting on and evaluating past and present technology and articulating aesthetic, social and environmental issues

Our Design & Technology curriculum is high quality, well thought out and planned to demonstrate progression. If children are keeping up with our curriculum, they are deemed to be making good or better progress and support is put in place for those working towards the curriculum objectives.

Please click here for our Design and Technology 'Progression of Knowledge and Skills' document.