Design Technology

Design Technology at Fox Hill

Intent

At Fox Hill Primary School, we:

• Have the belief that all pupils can achieve

• Aim to inspire pupils to be innovative and creative thinkers who have an appreciation for the product design cycle through ideation, creation and evaluation.

• Teach skills progressively, to ensure that all children are able to learn and practise in order to develop as they move through the school

• Aim to make links, where appropriate, to topics and other areas of interest for our pupils, giving meaning and context to their learning

• Aim to enable pupils to develop confidence and take risks through drafting design concepts, modelling and testing, in order to be reflective learners who evaluate their work and the work of others

• Aim to build an awareness of the impact of design and technology on our lives and encourage pupils to become resourceful, enterprising citizens who will have the skills to contribute to future design advancements.

Support personal development through the exploration and development of key skills that pupils can use in the real world

Implementation  

We teach the National Curriculum, supported by a clear skills and knowledge progression. Our chosen DT scheme, Kapow, provides a spiral curriculum, with key areas revisited again and again with increasing complexity, allowing pupils to revisit and build on their previous learning.

All teaching of DT should follow the design, make and evaluate cycle:

• The design process should be rooted in real life, relevant contexts to give meaning to learning.

• While making, children should be given choice and a range of tools to choose freely from.

• To evaluate, children should be able to evaluate their own products against a design criteria.

Each stage of the design process is underpinned by technical knowledge which encompasses the contextual, historical, and technical understanding required for each strand.

DT is usually taught in in short blocks and is taught to a high standard, where each of the stages should be given equal weight.

Key skills are taught through the following areas:

• sewing and textiles

• cooking and nutrition

• mechanical systems / mechanisms

• Structures

• electrical systems (KS2)

• digital world (KS2)

Lessons incorporate a range of teaching strategies from independent tasks, paired and group work including practical hands-on, computer-based and inventive tasks. This variety means that lessons are engaging and appeal to those with a variety of learning styles.

Differentiated guidance is available for every lesson to ensure that lessons can be accessed by all pupils and opportunities to stretch pupils’ learning are available when required. Knowledge organisers for each unit support pupils in building a foundation of factual knowledge by encouraging recall of key facts and vocabulary.

Impact

High-quality design and technology education makes an essential contribution to the creativity, culture, wealth and well-being of the nation.

Through our DT curriculum, our pupils will learn how to become 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.

By the time children leave our school they will possess:

• An excellent attitude to learning and independent working.

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

• 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 shape, decorate and manufacture various products.

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

• An understanding of how to apply the principles of healthy eating, diets and recipes, including key processes, food groups and cooking equipment.

• A passion for designing and creating.