Design and Technology
Design and Technology
Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes.
Design is knowing which ones to keep.
At Little Leigh Primary School, we follow the 'Projects on a Page' scheme which ensures all of the key skills and areas are being taught in line with the national curriculum. This is split into five areas which are covered at least twice during the children’s time in our school. These are: Mechanisms, Structures, Textiles, Electrical Systems & Food.
In addition to experiencing a 'Cooking and Nutrition' project each year, all children from years 1-6 have at least one extra cooking session per year with our school chef during the school day. Specific skills are taught in these lessons in keeping with the skills appropriate for their age group e.g. slicing, grating, heating, mixing & kneading.
During the design process, children are encouraged to experiment and make mistakes in order to solve problems and make adaptations to their designs. They are also exposed to a range of famous designers and inventors in order to inspire them to become problem solvers and innovators of the future!
Design Technology
Purpose of study
Design and technology is an inspiring, rigorous and practical subject. The underlying principle for high-quality D&T is that children need to be taught how to design and make things for a particular purpose. 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.
Aims
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.
Intent
The National Curriculum for Design and Technology states that the subject is “inspiring, rigorous and practical”. Design and Technology aims to allow children to use their imagination and creativity to design and make a range of products within a variety of contexts. Children will build and apply the knowledge and skills needed to design high quality products. They are given the opportunity to understand nutrition and learn how to cook.
Implementation
At Little Leigh Primary School, we aim to implement this by steering children through our circular design process:
Design and Technology requires children to draw on skills within Mathematics, Art, Science and Computing. Children will deepen their understanding and independence within all of these subject areas during their Design and Technology lessons.
Children are given regular opportunities to develop their understanding of the technological world. We will evaluate past and present design and technology and the ways that these have influenced modern society. This will allow our children to have a more critical approach to their own designs and creations.
Throughout their time at Little Leigh Primary School, children will be encouraged to take risks when designing and making their products. Lessons will be hands on and engaging, with the children having access to lots of resources and materials. They will be encouraged to think critically in order to evaluate their past prototypes and when testing their current designs. This will allow the children to build upon their artistic skills and become more resourceful.
We want the children at Little Leigh Primary School to develop their imagination, their critical thinking and their understanding of the world around them through their love of Design and Technology. We aim for our children to question and think innovatively about the world around them in order to design and develop their own products with a purpose in mind.
