Design Technology

7e91546b-2062-45c3-a6a6-ece385e88244_1x1.jpeg

Design Technology at Ashleigh Primary School

Intent, Implementation, Impact statements

Intent

At Ashleigh, Design Technology is an integral part of providing a wide and well-rounded curriculum. The design process enables children to think creatively and solve problems. We believe that exposing children to a wide range of products and projects inspires their curiosity for the world around them. Children will benefit from a hands-on approach that supports other areas of the curriculum such as Mathematics, English, Science, Art and Computing. The skills taught in Design Technology equip our children for our ever-changing technological world. The aims of teaching Design Technology at Ashleigh are as follows:

  • To develop a wide range of skills such as cutting, sewing, joining materials and cooking.
  • To evaluate existing products and suggest suitable changes in order to make improvements.
  • To understand and make good nutritional choices whilst learning a range of cooking skills.

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.

Implementation

Design Technology is taught throughout the school across all key stages and the Early Years Foundation Stage. We follow the Dimensions curriculum and Design Technology projects are implemented into each topic or taught alongside a topic to ensure Design Technology coverage.

There are 5 main topics covered as children move throughout the school. These are:

  • Mechanisms
  • Cooking and nutrition
  • Structures
  • Textiles
  • Electronics.

Within each topic, lessons follow a sequence beginning with evaluating existing products. They then move on to designing, followed by making and then evaluating their own product.

Impact

We are able to measure the impact in Design Technology through the displaying of work in classrooms, pupil conferencing discussions and book looks with a range of pupils. As a result of good teaching and learning, we have many pupils who are excited about learning DT; who enjoy designing and making, thinking critically in different ways and who develop core skills whilst applying subjects such as Maths and English in a creative way.

Useful DT webpages

D&T Association - https://www.data.org.uk/for-education/primary/ 

STEM Learning - https://www.stem.org.uk/primary-dt-resources

BBC Learning D&T KS2 - https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/ks2-design-and-technology/zvb8hbk 

Food a fact of life - https://www.foodafactoflife.org.uk/ 

How Stuff Works - https://www.howstuffworks.com/

Lego - Let's Build Together! - https://www.lego.com/en-gb/themes/letsbuildtogether/365-activities 

Files to Download

design-and-technology-policy-april-2021 PRIMARY_national_curriculum_-_Design_and_technology