Design Technology
Intent
At St David's our Design and Technology curriculum is designed to inspire children to think innovatively and inquisitively and follows the Essentials Curriculum. Our intent is to encourage children to become independent, creative problem solvers and thinkers as individuals and part of a team. We give children opportunities to design and make products that solve real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts, considering their own and others’ needs, wants and values. Projects link, where appropriate to other areas of the curriculum and we encourage children to make connections to other subjects, such as mathematics, science, computing and art. The children are given opportunities to reflect upon and evaluate past and present technology and its usefulness so that they can use these skills in their lives beyond primary school.
Implementation
Design and technology is a crucial part of school life and learning and it is for this reason that as a school we are dedicated to the teaching and delivery of a high quality Design and Technology curriculum; through well planned and resourced projects and experiences.
• DT is taught each term
• Through a variety of creative and practical activities, we teach the knowledge, understanding and skills needed to engage in the process of being a designer and maker.
• Children are taught to show a clear process of research, design, make and evaluate.
• We deliver a range of Design and Technology projects with a clear structure, which includes challenging pupils at all levels.
• Children are able to explore a range of existing products and formulate opinions on these, in order to make design decisions for their own product.
• Children design products with a purpose in mind and an intended user of the products.
• New vocabulary is taught progressively
• Food technology is implemented across the school with children developing an understanding of where food comes from, the importance of a varied and healthy diet and how to prepare this.
• DT is assessed at the end of each unit.
Impact
As a result of our curriculum design, children take risks, are reflective, innovative, enterprising and resilient. Products become more complex throughout the school and products produced demonstrate age-appropriate skills. Children can talk about the process of designing, making and evaluating in all year groups. They reflect upon the impact of Design Technology on everyday life and the wider world. Our children can apply their skills to new ideas and safely undertake projects involving design and technology to a high standard in their life beyond primary school.