Aims

The  national  curriculum  for  design and technology  aims  to ensure  that  all  pupils:

• Develop the creative,  technical  and practical  expertise  needed to perform  everyday tasks  confidently  and to participate successfully  in an increasingly  technological  world.
• 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  users.
•  Critique,  evaluate and  test  their  ideas  and products  and the work  of  others.
• Understand  and apply  the principles  of  nutrition and learn how  to cook.

Intent -What are we trying to achieve for our children in Design and Technology?

At Sparken Hill Academy, we endeavour to give our children the opportunity to develop skill, knowledge and understanding of designing and making functional products.  Pupils use their creativity and imagination to design and make products that solve real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts.  They draw on the disciplines of other subjects such as: mathematics, science, computing and art.  Pupils learn to take risks, becoming resourceful, innovative, enterprising, and capable citizens.  They evaluate existing products to inspire them to create their own ideas and designs, while utilising a range of communicative skills to express and present their designs.

Implementation - How is the curriculum delivered?

In ensuring high standards of teaching and learning in design and technology, we implement a curriculum that is progressive throughout the whole school.  Design and technology is taught as part of a half-termly or termly topic, focusing on designer knowledge and progressive skills stated in the National Curriculum and Development Matters. 

EYFS

Through Expressive Arts children are encouraged to construct and create purposefully as they select tools and techniques needed to shape, assemble and join materials. This also allows children to develop their fine motor skills.  Children learn through first-hand experiences which involve putting their ideas into practice to develop an awareness and understanding of the possibilities and limitations of different materials.  Children are encouraged to explore, observe, solve problems, think critically, make decisions and talk about why they have made their decisions as they design and create. Children’s natural creativity is fostered and opportunities for investigation, designing and making are offered regularly, which enables children to learn a great deal about their world.

In Key Stage 1, children will build on these skills practised in the Foundation Stage. The children undertake construction, mechanics, food and textiles projects.

In Key Stage 2 they will also undertake construction, mechanics, food and textiles projects.  The children also have opportunities to investigate electrical systems and computing systems.

Planning will clearly follow the process of design, make, evaluate and improve.  These key concepts enable pupils to reinforce and build upon prior learning, make connections and develop subject specific language

Impact - What difference is the curriculum making? 

We ensure the children:
• develop the creative, technical and practical expertise needed to perform everyday tasks confidently and to participate successfully in an increasingly technological world
• 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 users and critique, evaluate and test their ideas and products and the work of others
• understand and apply the principles of nutrition and learn how to cook. Children will design and make a range of products. A good quality finish will be expected in all design and activities made appropriate to the age and ability of the child.

Through the explicit teaching of the Design skills, both the teachers and the pupils assess their learning continuously throughout the lesson.

Learning is assessed through the analysis of the pupil’s ability to evaluate, design, make and improve their own work.