Design Technology

Intent

At Castle Camps, children receive a design and technology curriculum which allows them to exercise and develop their creativity through designing and making. The children are taught to combine their designing and making skills with knowledge and understanding in order to design and make a product. Skills are taught progressively to ensure that all children are able to learn and practice in order to develop as they move through the school. Evaluation is an integral part of the design process and allows children to adapt and improve their product; this is a key skill which they will implement throughout their life. Design and Technology allows children to apply the knowledge and skills learned in other subjects across the curriculum, particularly Maths, Science and Art. Children's interests are captured through project design briefs, giving them purpose, motivation and meaning for their learning.

Implementation

At Castle Camps, we use a variety of teaching and learning styles in DT lessons. There is a mixture of whole class teaching as well as group and individual activities depending on the task. In all classes we recognise that there are children of differing ability so a range of learning opportunities are available to support all children. We achieve this through a range of strategies e.g. open-ended tasks where children can select different skills and tools to use, setting tasks of increasing difficulty, providing challenges and extensions and also through the use of an adult for support in some circumstances. Children have the opportunity both to work on their own and to collaborate with others. They are encouraged to listen to and comment on the work of their friends.

We teach the National Curriculum, supported by clear skills and knowledge progression. This ensures that skills and knowledge are built on year on year and sequenced appropriately to maximise learning for all children. DT is taught in alternate half-terms to Art. The teachers cover the D&T units in ways which benefit the class. They either teach it weekly or may prefer to use a block of time to complete the work depending on the unit. Their individual planning will indicate which method they have chosen.  All teaching of DT follows the design, make, evaluate cycle. Each stage is rooted in technical knowledge. The design process is rooted in real-life. Relevant contexts give meaning to learning and provide a purpose for the project. While making, children are given the choice of a range of tools to select from. To evaluate, children are encouraged to evaluate their own products against a design criteria. Each of these steps are rooted in technical knowledge and vocabulary. DT is taught to a high standard, where each of the stages are given equal importance.

Impact

By the time our pupils leave Castle Camps Primary School, they will have:

• An excellent attitude to learning and independent working.

• The ability to use time efficiently and work constructively and productively with others.

• The ability to carry out thorough research, show initiative and ask questions to develop an exceptionally detailed knowledge of users' needs.

• The ability to act as responsible designers and makers, working ethically, using finite materials carefully and working safely.

• A thorough knowledge of which tools, equipment and materials to use to make their products.

• The ability to apply mathematical and scientific knowledge and skills accurately.

• The ability to manage risks exceptionally well to manufacture products safely and hygienically.

• A passion for the subject and a desire to explore their learning further in the future.