Intent
At Huncote Primary School we aim to provide children with a DT education that provides the relevant skills needed in our rapidly changing world. We want to encourage our children to become problem solvers who can work collaboratively on a shared project. We believe that high-quality DT lessons will inspire children to think independently, innovatively and develop a creative, procedural and technical understanding.
Our DT curriculum provides children with opportunities to research, represent their ideas, explore and investigate, design their intentions, make a product, evaluate their work and to develop their technical knowledge. Our DT units link to our creative curriculum for example when Years 5 and 6 study Japan their design unit links to food and the children learn the design process behind making sushi.
Throughout their time at Huncote, children will be exposed to a wide range of media including textiles, food and woodwork; through this, children will develop their skills, vocabulary and resilience.
Implementation of the Design and Technology 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.
We have a clear scheme of work in line with the National Curriculum. Whilst the EYFS and National Curriculum forms the foundation of our curriculum, we make sure that children learn additional skills, knowledge and understanding and enhance our curriculum as and when necessary. Children have access to key knowledge, language and meanings to understand Design Technology and to use these skills across the curriculum. In Design Technology children are asked to solve problems and develop their learning independently. This allows the children to have more ownership over their curriculum and to lead their own learning in Design Technology.
English, Maths and ICT skills are taught during discrete lessons but are revisited in Design Technology so children can apply and embed the skills they have learnt in a purposeful context.
Impact of the Design and Technology Curriculum
Our DT Curriculum is developing to provide well thought out lessons and topics that demonstrate progression. In addition, we measure the impact of our curriculum through the following methods: reflection on standards achieved against the planned outcomes; pupil discussions about their learning, which includes discussion of their thoughts, ideas, processing and evaluations of work.
Evidence can be seen in our Learning Journeys through photos. Children will then build on their Design and Technology Skills as they progress through Huncote and this is an additional way of measuring impact.
As designers, children at Huncote will develop skills, resilience and attributes they can use beyond school and into adulthood.
“Design is a funny word. Some people think design means how it looks. But of course, if you look deeper, it’s really how it works.”
Steve Jobs
Design Technology Progression
Assessment
Assessment in Design Technology is ongoing and based on individual lessons and units. A feedback sheet is completed at the end of a lesson or unit and these are used to assess progress against the National Curriculum objectives.