Design and Technology

Design and technology is an inspiring, rigorous and practical subject.  Using creativity and imagination, pupils 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 acquire a broad range of subject knowledge and draw on disciplines such as mathematics, science, engineering, computing and art.  Pupils learn how to take risks, becoming resourceful, innovative, enterprising and capable citizens.  Through the evaluation of past and present design and technology, they develop a critical understanding of its impact on daily life and the wider world.  High-quality design and technology education makes an essential contribution to the creativity, culture, wealth and well-being of the nation.

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School Curriculum for Design and Technology 

Our teaching of Design and Technology and the expectations we have of children are underpinned by the National Curriculum Programme of Study for Design and Technology.

In each year group, children will be taught:

  • to develop the creative, technical and practical expertise need to perform everyday tasks
  • to build and apply knowledge, understanding and skills in order to design and make high-quality prototypes and products
  • to critique, evaluate and test their ideas and products and the work of others
  • to understand and apply the principles of nutrition and learn how to cook (food technology)

In Key Stage 1 (Years 1 – 2), the children will be taught:

  • to apply their knowledge, understanding and skills to a range of relevant contexts, e.g. home, classroom, school, garden, local community
  • about designing purposeful, functional and appealing products for themselves and others
  • to generate and communicate their ideas through talking, drawing, mock-ups and ICT
  • to select and use a range of tools and equipment for practical tasks, e.g. cutting, shaping, joining and finishing
  • to select and use a range of materials and components, e.g. paper, card, wood, plastic, textiles and ingredients
  • to explore and evaluate their ideas and existing products
  • to build structures and mechanisms, e.g. levers, slides, wheels and axles
  • to use the basic principles of a healthy and varied diet to prepare dishes
  • to understand where food comes from

In Key Stage 2 (Years 3 – 4), the children will be taught:

  • to apply their knowledge, understanding and skills to a wider range of contexts, e.g. school, leisure, culture, enterprise, industry and the environment
  • to research and develop design criteria to inform the design of innovative, functional and appealing products that are fit for purpose
  • to generate, develop and communicate their ideas through discussion, sketches, cross-sectional and exploded diagrams, prototypes and computer-aided design
  • to select from and use accurately a wider range of tools and equipment to perform practical tasks, e.g. cutting, shaping, joining and finishing
  • to select from and use a wider range of materials, including construction materials, textiles and ingredients, according to their properties and aesthetic qualities
  • to investigate and analyse a range of existing products to inform their own ideas
  • to evaluate their own work and that of others, and use views to improve their work
  • to understand how key events and individuals in design and technology have helped shape the world
  • to apply their understand to improve products, e.g. strength and stiffness
  • to understand mechanical (e.g. gears, pulleys, levers and linkages) and electrical systems (e.g. circuits, switches and motors)
  • to apply their understanding of computing to program, monitor and control their products
  • to understand and apply the principles of a healthy and varied diet
  • prepare and cook a variety of predominantly savoury dishes using a range of cooking techniques
  • to understand where and how food is grown and processed
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