Design and Technology

'I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.' (Thomas A. Edison)

Intent

Our Curriculum has been designed to ensure each and every child can ‘be the best people they can be’  by offering  stimulating and awe-inspiring learning experiences with  our Catholic values at  its heart.

It is designed to meet the needs of the pupils at St Mary and St Andrew’s, not only by focusing on appropriate subject specific knowledge, skills and understanding as set out in the National Curriculum, but by modelling the virtues given to us by Christ. Our aspirational curriculum intends to develop individual and collaborative learning experiences; a positive growth mind set; a sense of responsibility and provide challenges that take learning beyond the classroom.

Design and Technology prepares pupils to participate in today’s rapidly changing technologies. They learn to think and intervene creatively to improve quality of life. The subject calls for pupils to become autonomous and creative problem solvers, as individuals and members of a team. They must look for needs, wants and opportunities and respond to them by developing a range of ideas and making products and systems. They combine practical skills with an understanding of aesthetics, social and environmental issues, function and industrial practices. As they do so, they reflect on and evaluate present and past design technology, its uses and effects. Design and Technology also aims to develop credible thinkers who can make good choices in food, diet and lifestyle. Through design and technology, all pupils can become discriminating and informed users of products and become innovators.

Design and technology education aims to:

Provide opportunities for children to experience investigating designing, making and modifying, using a wide range of materials including card, textiles, construction materials and kits and food, and adopting environmentally friendly practices where possible, through recycling and reusing materials and consumables.
Develop children’s capabilities in design and technology using knowledge and skills from a wide range of other curriculum areas, making fundamental cross-curricular links.
Enable children to 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 user.
Develop children’s confidence in CAD and 3D printing as a tool to create, develop, improve and make prototypes and products .
Develop children’s confidence in the use of electrical circuits and coding to prepare them to be active participants in an increasingly technological world.
Lead children through a logical, iterative process where ideas may be transformed into objects for a user and to fit a purpose.

Implementation

In order to achieve these aims, Design and Technology is organised into skills-based units and contributes to cross-curricular topics. Opportunities are provided for the development of skills and integration with other subjects, including Numeracy, Literacy, Science and Art.

The planning and teaching of DT follows the investigate, design, make and evaluate cycle. Whilst making, children will be given choice and a range of tools to choose freely from. Progression is assessed by class teachers through the analysis of the pupil’s ability to evaluate, design, make and improve their own work.

Impact

An excellent attitude to learning and independent working, enabling our children to become critical thinkers.
The ability to use time efficiently and work constructively and productively with others.
A thorough knowledge of which tools, equipment and materials to use to make their products.
The ability to apply mathematical knowledge and skills accurately.
The ability to manage risks to manufacture products safely and hygienically becoming resourceful, innovative and enterprising individuals.
A passion and excitement for designing and making products including working with, preparing and tasting food.

How we do it

Each year, we determine the organisation of our five classes; sometimes the classes are mixed age and other times they are straight year groups. To support the careful achievement of all pupils within their chronological year group, we plan for progression in single year groups. We commit to ensuring that all children receive their full educational entitlement, as a minimum, at the end of each keystage milestone: EYFS, KS1, LKS2 and UKS2.