Design and Technology

Intent

 At St Simon of England, children receive a design and technology curriculum which allows them to exercise their creativity through designing and making.

The children are taught to combine their designing and making skills with knowledge and understanding in order to design and make products.

Evaluation is an integral part of the design process and allows children to adapt and improve their products this is a key skill which they need throughout their lives. 

Skills are taught progressively to ensure that all children are able to learn and practice in order to develop as they move through the school.

Design & Technology allows children to apply the knowledge and skills learned in other subjects, particularly Mathematics, Science and Art.

Children’s interests are captured through theme learning, ensuring that links are made in a cross curricular way, giving children motivation and meaning for their learning.

Children will learn basic: cooking, food and nutrition.

Implementation

 What do we teach? What does this look like?

Our whole curriculum is shaped by our school vision which aims to enable all children, regardless of background, ability, additional needs to flourish to become the very best version of themselves they can possibly be.

We use content from the Design and Technology Association's "Project on a Page" to teach the Design and Technology Curriculum across Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2. This enables us to meet as a minimum the requirements of the National Curriculum for Design and Technology and enables our teachers to deliver creative, inspiring and engaging lessons.

Our curriculum provides for progression in skills and knowledge.

The curriculum covers the following areas:

• Mechanisms
• Structures
• Textiles
• Electrical Systems
• Cooking and Nutrition

Four strands of Design and Technology run through each unit (Design, Make, Evaluate and Technical Knowledge) the fifth strand Cooking and Nutrition is a stand alone unit each year.

Where possible links are made with other areas of the curriculum, as these often lead "purpose" and "use" for products which the children will design and make. 

Design and Technology will be taught in seasonal blocks (Autumn, Spring and Summer). Teaching in blocks at Key Stage 1 and 2 allows the curriculum to be studied in depth.

Impact

What will this look like? By the time children leave our school they will:

• Have an excellent attitude to learning and independent working.
• The ability to use time efficiently and work constructively and productively with others.
• The ability to carry out thorough research, show initiative and ask questions to develop an exceptionally detailed knowledge of users’ needs.
• The ability to act as responsible designers and makers, working ethically, using finite materials carefully and working safely.
• 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 exceptionally well to manufacture products safely and hygienically.
• A passion for the subject.