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Design and Technology (DT)
Design and Technology prepares children to take part in the development of today’s rapidly changing world. Creative thinking encourages children to make positive changes to their quality of life. The subject encourages children to become autonomous and creative problem-solvers, both as individuals and as part of a team. It enables them to identify needs and opportunities and to respond by developing ideas and eventually making products and systems. Through the study of design and technology they combine practical skills with an understanding of aesthetic, social and environmental issues, as well as functions and industrial practices. This allows them to reflect on and evaluate present and past design and technology, its uses and its impacts. Design and technology helps all children to become discriminating and informed consumers and potential innovators. We live in a technological age, surrounded by artefacts and systems which have been produced, designed and made for us by other humans working together in a complex range of activities.
Subject Leader Overview
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 make an essential contribution to the creativity, culture, wealth and well-being of the nation.
The Teaching Sequence in DT (and Assessment)
Progression in Skills and Knowledge - DT
Curriculum Intent, Implementation and Impact
Intention:
- To build a Design Technology curriculum which develops learning and results in the acquisition of knowledge and skills. Children will know more, remember more and understand more.
- To have an understanding and appreciation of products and design and how and why items are made.
- To develop the skills and flair needed to express their ideas and produce intended outcomes in their own design work.
Implementation:
- We have a clear, comprehensive and cross-curricular scheme of work in line with the National Curriculum. Teaching and Learning shows progression across all key stages within the strands of DT.
- Children have access to key knowledge, language and meanings in order to understand and readily apply this to their practical work in DT.
- Children are exposed to work by designers and craftworkers who will inspire them and enable them consider and experiment with a range of techniques, designs, materials and dimensions, including food and cooking.
- Teachers demonstrate techniques and provide opportunities for children to explore these using a range of materials.
- Children collect their ideas, research, experimentation and designs in their own sketchbooks and in a class Big Book in which processes and results are captured, shared, reflected upon and celebrated.
- Work is produced with a clear purpose/audience and evaluated and displayed to the highest standard.
- Products are often shared, consumed or sold to raise money for our school and pupils.
- The environment is considered at every stage of the design and making process to ensure that children are aware of themselves as designers and consumers.
Impact:
- Children will achieve age related expectations in DT at the end of their academic year.
- Children will retain knowledge about designs and products that they scrutinise for each unit of work and speak about them with confidence.
- Children will understand what being a ‘designer’ means.
- Children will be able to articulate their preferences with reasons and respect that design not only involves ergonomics but also aesthetics, therefore it can be subjective.
- Children will understand that being a designer takes determination and perseverance.
- Children will be able to design and realise their own products using the skills and knowledge that they have acquired.