Intent

Design and technology is an inspiring, rigorous and practical subject. 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

Implementation

The Design and Technology curriculum is carefully and coherently sequenced to enable our children to develop a growing knowledge of the themes outlined above. Pupils’ knowledge builds towards clearly defined end points so teachers and leaders know what we expect our pupils to achieve by the end of each topic, each year and each key stage. To meet the educational needs of our school community we have selected the following core knowledge concepts as a focus for our teaching. These are explored in increasing depth as pupils move through the school.

In Reception Design and Technology is taught as part of the Exploring and Using materials within the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum. Further information on how the Early Years Curriculum is organised ca be found on our Early Years Policy.

Across KS1 and KS2 all children will be taught and develop skills on the following Design and Technology concepts:

• Food (every year group will complete a food technology unit)
• Materials
• Structures
• Wheels and Axis
• Mechanisms
• Electricity

In Years 1 to 6 D&T is taught as a discrete subject, though meaningful links are made with other subjects in our curriculum, each knowledge organiser shows where there are links to the English through a related text. The topics we teach are outlined in the curriculum map for Science (see Appendix 1). This is published on our website.