Design and Technology

Intent

Here at Foxhills Junior School we believe design and technology (D.T) is an inspiring, rigorous and practical subject. It encourages children to learn to think and intervene creatively, as well as being able to solve problems, both as individuals and as members of a team.

In this subject, we encourage children to:

• Use their creativity and imagination, to design and make products that solve real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts, considering their own and others’ needs, wants and values.
• Link learning to other disciplines such as mathematics, science, computing and art.
• Reflect upon and evaluate past and present design technology, its uses and its effectiveness.
• Become innovators and risk-takers.

Implementation

As a school, and in accordance with the National Curriculum’s expectations, we aim 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.

Key skills and key knowledge for D.T is mapped across the school, to ensure progression between year groups. Teachers’ are expected to use this to plan their lessons accordingly, making sure all skills are covered across the academic year. This leads to there being a context for the children’s learning, focusing on the importance of real life structures and the purpose of specific examples, as well as developing their skills throughout. Some D.T learning is incorporated into projects, serving as a leading subject in at least one project throughout the year and applied subjects in others. Children also take part in an enterprise week, where they design and make products to be sold at the winter fayre. The learning is carried out primarily in the classroom, although opportunities are taken to use the outside areas and nature trail, where possible.

Impact

Our D.T curriculum is high quality, well thought-out and is planned to demonstrate progression. If children are keeping up with the curriculum, they are deemed to be making good or better progress. In addition, we measure the impact of our curriculum through the following methods:

• Teachers’ assess children’s final outcomes against ARE/GD statements, using the exemplification examples for further clarification.
• Teachers’ plan in opportunities to practise skills more than once in the academic year.
• Pupil discussions about their learning; which includes discussion of their thoughts, ideas, processing and evaluations of work.

In addition to this, children 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.