Design and Technology

Design Technology Curriculum

We value Design Technology and the opportunities that it provides for our children to be creative and to express themselves. This is a key part of the children’s entitlement to a broad and balanced curriculum. We have carefully designed and structured our DT curriculum to ensure children develop the knowledge and skills needed to be successful designers.

Children will be provided a range of experiences including; mechanisms, textiles, food technology, structures, digital world (CAD) and electrical systems. The DT curriculum has been structured to support children to be able to think critically and develop confidence in DT. As children progress through the school, the DT curriculum allows them to build upon prior knowledge and skills, giving them opportunities to apply them to a new context. In order to prepare them for their future, DT teaching will also support the children to develop key learning behaviours: resilience, risk taking, resourcefulness, relationships and reflection. Our Five R's of DT!

Through hands on experiences, we aim to create a love of DT, in which children are inspired by famous designers, architects and artists. The will have opportunities to develop techniques using a range of mediums and can talk about their work. At St John with St Michael CE Primary School, we aim for children to leave Year 6 with the knowledge, skills and a love of DT which will enable them to be creative individuals as they grow.

National Curriculum 
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.

Each year lessons cover both the ‘Cooking and Nutrition’ and ‘Processes’ aspects of the curriculum and pupils are taught to design, make and evaluate their products and increase in technical knowledge. 

Early Years Foundation Stage
Children in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) are assessed using Tapestry as our assessment tracker to record children's knowledge and skills.

EYFS staff assess Expressive Art and Design using Development Matters and the new Birth to 5 Matters. During the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), pupils explore and use a variety of media and materials through a combination of child initiated and adult directed activities. They have opportunities to learn to:

  • Explore the textures, movement, feel and look of different media and materials;
  • Respond to a range of media and materials developing an understanding that they manipulate and create effects with these;
  • Use different media and materials to express their own ideas;
  • Construct with a purpose in mind using a variety of resources;
  • Develop skills to use simple tools and techniques competently and appropriately;
  • Select appropriate resources for a product and adapt their work where necessary.

At St John with St Michael CE Primary School, Design Technology is a fundamental part of learning teaching and is taught from EYFS to Year 6.

Children in the Early Years are encouraged to explore and use a range of media and materials whilst also developing their creativity, imagination and critical thinking. This the foundation on which learning is developed throughout the school.

We use the Kapow scheme of work to support our planning and teaching of Design Technology in Years 1- 6, alongside the National Curriculum, which ensures a well-structured progression of DT knowledge and skills throughout the school. DT is taught on a half termly basis which alternates with Art & Design. A one hour lesson is timetabled per week to enable pupils to progress their skills over the duration of the term.  

Our vision at St John with St Michael Primary School, is for children to have a love of Design Technology and develop their creative, design and making skills. Pupil voice is an important part of our assessment, allowing us to continually reflect upon our Design Technology curriculum and our offer of extra-curricular activities.

Formative assessment is used to move children’s learning forward in Design Technology and to inform next steps. Summative assessments take place on a termly basis and attainment is tracked against National Curriculum expectations. This allows us to inform and address any trends or gaps in attainment.

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