Design Technology

Intent

Design and technology is an inspiring, rigorous and practical subject. Using creativity and imagination, pupils will design and make products that solve real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts, considering their own and others’ needs, wants and values. They will acquire a broad range of subject knowledge and draw on disciplines such as mathematics, science, engineering, computing and art. Pupils will learn how to take risks, becoming resourceful, innovative, enterprising and capable citizens. Through the evaluation of past and present design and technology, they will develop a critical understanding of its impact on daily life and the wider world. 

Implementation

Teaching Approach:

• Learning begins with an engaging hook and links are made to prior learning to capture students' interest and reinforce the ‘sticky knowledge’ that we want all children to know and remember.
• Concepts are mapped to show progression.
• Each lesson starts with a retrieval quiz: questions from the previous year, topic, and lesson.
• Teachers adapt their delivery and planning so that all pupils can access the learning. 

Lesson Structure:

• Introduce the overarching key enquiry question
• Learning focus is shared with the class.
• Revisit of prior learning through a retrieval task as well as a revisit of key knowledge. The children will complete 3 questions from last year, last topic, last lesson.
• Experiences to explore and investigate the enquiry question are shared with pupils.
• On-going formative assessment will take place in lessons and throughout the sequence.

Impact

Pupils will...

• 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.

Assessment

The assessment process for children involves several key components. At the beginning of each lesson, students engage in evidence informed retrieval practice tasks to reinforce substantive knowledge. On-going formative assessments also inform next steps and build on foundational and new knowledge. Pupils will also be assessed through on-going observations and how they work like a Designer e.g. being able to evaluate and test their ideas and products.

Pupil voice is also utilised to assess how well pupils can articulate their learning about what has been taught and the connections they make to prior learning. 

Cultural Capital

Cultural capital is essential, especially given our rural location. Understanding the wider world is a key driver for our curriculum. We make every effort to organise trips, speakers to the school and workshops so that children experience life in all its fullness. Diversity is one of our curriculum drivers, we ensure that our pupils receive a curriculum that understands and celebrates differences.

More detail about how we will achieve our intent is outlined in our Curriculum Statement for Design Technology below.