Design and Technology

Intent

The DT curriculum here at Tudor Primary School aims to inspire and equip students with the knowledge, skills and passion to be our future Designers. Our curriculum promotes innovation, creative thinkers who have an appreciation for the product design cycle through ideation, creation, and evaluation.

We want pupils to develop the confidence to take risks, through drafting design concepts in sketchbooks, modeling, and testing and to be reflective learners who evaluate their work and the work. Through our curriculum, we aim to build an awareness of the impact of design and technology on our lives and encourage pupils to become resourceful, enterprising citizens who will have the skills to contribute to future design advancements.

Implementation

DT In EYFS

In the EYFS pupils learn the skills and knowledge needed to manipulate materials and use simple tools effectively. Pupils are encouraged to plan and select tools and techniques needed to shape, assemble and join materials that they are using. Pupils are taught how to transport and store equipment safely. Pupils in the nursery also have an opportunity to explore woodwork skills to create simple models. This lays a secure foundation for the development of skills in the later key stages.

Key stage 1 and Key stage 2

The National curriculum organises the Design and technology attainment targets under four subheadings:

1. Design
2. Make
3. Evaluate
4. Technical knowledge

Cooking and nutrition is given a particular focus in the National curriculum and we have made this one of our six key areas that pupils revisit throughout their time in primary school:

● Cooking and nutrition

● Mechanisms/ Mechanical systems

● Structures

● Textiles

● Electrical systems (KS2 only)

● Digital world (KS2 only)

Our Design and Technology scheme is a spiral curriculum, with key areas revisited again and again with increasing complexity, allowing pupils to revisit and build on their previous learning. 

Lessons incorporate a range of teaching strategies from independent tasks, paired and group work including practical hands-on, computer-based and inventive tasks. This variety means that lessons are engaging and appeal to those with a variety of learning styles.

Impact

Pupil sketchbooks showcase a learning journey children love to share with others starting from pre topic quizzes, to design briefs, to ideas, to making then onto evaluation stages and finishing a topic with a post topic quiz which informs teacher judgment on assessment.

The expected impact on our learners by the time they leave primary school will be:

➔ Understand the functional and aesthetic properties of a range of materials and resources.

➔ Understand how to use and combine tools to carry out different processes for shaping, decorating, and manufacturing products.

➔ Build and apply a repertoire of skills, knowledge and understanding to produce high quality, innovative outcomes, including models, prototypes, CAD, and products to fulfil the needs of users, clients, and scenarios.

➔ Understand and apply the principles of healthy eating, diets, and recipes, including key processes, food groups and cooking equipment.