Design & Technology

‘Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.’

Steve Jobs

As teachers of design technology we…

…will follow the National Curriculum’s framework and aim to equip our young children with the knowledge and skills to design, make and evaluate a range of products for different purposes and audiences. We provide children with a design criteria to provide a purpose for their work and ensure that time is spent researching existing designs and products, which are of a high quality and often have a local significance. For example, Year Two pupils design, make and evaluate a healthy pasta dish to present to their parents and also our inhouse chef with the purpose of it being considered for the school menu. Year One pupils design and make a purse using different textiles and sewing techniques, which they will use to keep their money in on their trip to the seaside. 

In Design Technology, each term we focus on one of the three aspects of design which includes textiles, mechanisms and food. During the unit, the children will have time to learn, apply and improve design technology skills through high quality modelling, scaffolding and feedback from adults and peers. At the end of each unit we expect that the children will create a high-quality product which will be evaluated and showcased to their intended audience.

Through Design Technology we provide the opportunity for pupils to work collaboratively, sharing and generating ideas as a team. Our themed ‘build a den’ day, alongside the school’s den building outdoor area, allows pupils to build on a large scale with natural resources and encourages risk taking and problem solving. Food and nutrition is taught explicitly within the Design Technology curriculum as well as being used at key points in the year such as Christmas baking for the local community. As a result, our young children develop a good understanding of the importance of healthy eating and where food comes from and learn essential skills for later life. This is further enhanced by the children growing and looking after plants in our school allotment and caring for the school’s livestock, understanding how this contributes to products on the plate. 

We encourage children to be curious and use their imagination as designers. For example, our whole school designers project encourages children to design and create a ‘new’ product, which would be of interest to purchase/ invest in. Children present their ideas and plans in front of a panel, building their confidence, presentation and speaking and listening skills. Throughout the school year pupils are also involved in designing and making other products, for example Christmas cards for the local community.

National Curriculum 2014

In Design and Technology, pupils will have the opportunity to learn to:

• design purposeful, functional, appealing products for themselves and other users based on design criteria
• generate, develop, model and communicate their ideas through talking, drawing, templates, mock-ups and, where appropriate, information and communication technology
• select from and use a range of tools and equipment to perform practical tasks (for example, cutting, shaping, joining and finishing)
• select from and use a wide range of materials and components, including construction materials, textiles and ingredients, according to their characteristics
• explore and evaluate a range of existing products
• evaluate their ideas and products against design criteria
• build structures, exploring how they can be made stronger, stiffer and more stable
• explore and use mechanisms (for example, levers, sliders, wheels and axles) in their products
• use the basics principles of a healthy and varied diet to prepare dishes
• understand where food comes from

Pupils will be able to develop their knowledge and skills as designers by:

• creating designs and drawings to show their ideas
• using a variety of tools and materials
• using their imagination
• evaluating, changing and adapting my ideas
• considering the purpose of their design