St Amand's Catholic Primary School

Design and Technology at St. Amand's

Design Technology incorporates innovative creativity and risk-taking leading to a high level of resourcefulness enabling learners to become channels of divine inspiration.  Design Technology calls forth imagination, resourcefulness, and creativity whilst drawing on a wide variety of complementary disciplines.  Design Technology challenges students to engage with issues of inclusion, stewardship, the dignity of the human person and ecology. 

How is the D.T. Curriculum delivered? (Implementation)

• D.T. is taught across each year group, from EYFS to Year 6 and is a foundation subject that is generally taught in terms one, three and five to accommodate Art and Design being taught in terms two, four and six. However, terms may be swapped to fit topics and to suit the needs of the children.
• The D.T. curriculum is delivered in small steps and technical skills are revisited along with new knowledge.
• The teaching of D.T. in key stage 1 and key stage 2 is taught across a two-year cycle. DT units from each key stage are taught with links to class topics. Teachers follow a clear progression of knowledge with an enquiry-based approach to teaching and learning.
• All D.T. units provide a emphasise on enquiry-based learning so that our children are challenged and can reach their full potential. Support is there to further develop the children’s thinking and learning. However, self-exploration is one of our guiding principles. Recording is adapted through each year group and tailored as appropriate for our children.
• First-hand experiences are crucial to all D.T. lessons with an empathise on learning through doing and reflecting.
• Designs are presented in a variety of ways in key stage 1 including: labelled drawings, ICT, templates, and mock-ups. In key stage 2, designs are shown through labelled diagrams, annotated sketches, exploded diagrams and ICT software.
• When designing and making, pupils will engage with the process of research, design, make and evaluate. They are taught a wide range of technical knowledge, including developing planning and communication; working with tools, equipment and components to make quality products (including food) and evaluating processes and products.
• In EYFS, our children develop the fundamental skills in D.T. which prepares them for future learning. D.T. is explored around the theme of ‘Expressive Arts and Design’ through ‘Exploring and using media and materials’ and ‘Being imaginative’.

What difference is the D.T. Curriculum making? (Impact)

• Confidence in D.T. will enable children to become competent in essential life skills and knowledge such as problem solving, logical thinking and evaluation.
• Children will develop strong communication skills and will listen respectfully and with tolerance to the views of others.
• Pupils will develop curiosity and the ability to question of how and why things work.
• Pupils will confidently explain how their previous learning has supported the development of their current work.
• Pupils will be able to explore and evaluate designs and use critical thinking skills to develop enhancements.
• Pupils will competently use and know the meaning of agreed vocabulary correctly when talking and writing about D.T.
• Pupils will demonstrate emotional resilience and the ability to persevere when they encounter a challenge.
• Pupils will develop self-awareness and become confident in their own ability.
• Pupils will apply and develop their creative knowledge and be given a range of opportunities to express themselves creatively.
• Pupils will extend their knowledge and understanding of a wide range of materials, including construction kits, textiles, food, wood, plastic, and reclaimed/junk materials.
• Pupils will learn about health and safety aspects when working with a variety of materials and tools.
• Pupils will consider risk to themselves and to others and build up a knowledge and understanding of the dangers inherent to certain products and tools.
• Pupils will develop their bank of technical vocabulary used with design and technology.