Eastcourt
Independent School
Design Technology
Our Design and Technology curriculum develops children's skills and knowledge in design, structures, mechanisms, electrical control and a range of materials, including food.
Intent
Our aim is to enable pupils to become creative and reflective learners who are able to express themselves fluently and confidently in a variety of different ways. Within the curriculum, DT will contribute towards this, enabling pupils to respond thoughtfully to different learning and stimuli. Pupils should be able to develop their cultural understanding in a range of contexts. We want our pupils to understand that the perseverance and attentiveness needed to complete a Design project leads to personal pride. DT intends to allow pupils to develop real life skills such as sewing and cooking as well as technical skills. It is our intention that they learn about real designers from a variety of cultural backgrounds.
Implementation
The curriculum has been designed to cover the skills set out in the National Curriculum. Pupils should be taught to develop their techniques, including their control and use of materials, with creativity, experimentation and an increasing awareness of different kinds of technical and craft materials. Design Technology projects are cross-curricular and can be linked to a class topic to enhance the pupils’ understanding of the key concepts covered in other subjects (e.g. History and Geography).
Designers from different eras/cultures are looked at and referred to, where possible,as they research their products to give a balanced knowledge and understanding of DT concepts and skills.
A range of equipment and resources are available to ensure success for all pupils including templates, vocabulary cards to help with technical language. They will explore and use equipment such as glue guns, saws, electronic equipment, construction kits and weighing scales in cooking and nutrition. Looking at many cultures and designs for inspiration to generate their own ideas.
Their ideas and design process will be documented in booklets which will be their personal learning journey and this will travel through the school with them.
Impact
Examples of our design work are exhibited throughout the school, both on classroom and communal displays.
In Reception, all children have a personalised ‘Learning Journey’ which is used to record development from all areas across the year. Teachers use the evidence to ensure that children are making progress and attaining well. Where children are not meeting expected standards, teachers provide additional support as appropriate.
On entry to Year 1, children discover and learn more about Design Technology. This continues throughout all year groups as pupils acquire knowledge and experiment using different skills. DT shows a progression of skills in each year group encouraging children to be resourceful and use materials thoughtfully and be mindful of waste. They will create, design, make and evaluate.
They will grow their ability to generate an idea by exploring real examples , take inspiration to then design and practise skills in focus tasks and to then create a design and evaluate their finished product. DT is cross curricular and links topics and enables cultural appreciation and enjoyment as they expand their creativity.
