Design & Technology

Intent – What we are trying to achieve?

Design and Technology is a very practical subject. It encourages children to learn to think creatively to solve problems both as individuals and as members of a team. We encourage children to use their creativity and imagination, to design and make products that solve real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts, considering their own and others’ needs, wants and values.

We aim to, wherever possible, link work to other curriculum areas such as Mathematics, Science, Computing and Art. The children are also given opportunities to reflect upon and evaluate past and present design technology, its uses and its effectiveness and are encouraged to become innovators and risk-takers.

Implementation – How will we achieve this?

Through a variety of creative and practical activities, we teach the knowledge, understanding and skills needed to engage in the process of designing and making. When designing and making, the children are taught to: 

Design 
• use research and develop a criteria to inform their design of an innovative, functional and appealing products that is fit for purpose.
• generate, develop, model and share their ideas through discussion, sketches, diagrams, prototypes, and computer-aided design 
 
Make 
• select from and use a wider range of tools and equipment to perform practical tasks (for example, cutting, shaping, joining and finishing) accurately 
• select from and use materials and components such as construction materials, textiles and ingredients, according to their functional properties.
 
Evaluate 
• investigate and analyse a range of existing products 
• evaluate their ideas and products against their own design criteria and consider the views of others to improve their work 
• understand how key events and individuals in design and technology have helped shape the world 
 
 
Technical knowledge 
• apply their understanding of how to strengthen, stiffen and reinforce difficult structures 
• understand and use mechanical systems in their products 
• understand and use electrical systems in their products 
• apply their understanding of computing to program, monitor and control their products 

Each concept is taught through clear skill progression which is guided by Chris Quigley Milestones. The Milestones are organised into two year blocks so that children have enough time to revisit and refine their skills so that they remain in the children’s long term memory (LTM). Teachers use these to plan their lessons to ensure that each learner is able to access the work. 

  
Impact – What difference will this make?

We ensure that the children’s knowledge, understanding and skills are built upon in order for them to design and make high-quality prototypes and products for a wide range of users. We also ensure that they are able to critique, evaluate and test their ideas and products. Throughout the Design and Technology topics, the children learn how to take risks, become resourceful, innovative, enterprising and capable citizens and in addition to this, through the evaluation of past and present design and technology, they develop a crucial understanding of its impact on daily life and the wider world.