Design Technology

Intent

Through Design and Technology (DT), we want the children of Pencoys to become creators, risk-takers and problem solvers. We want children to work through their designs to further develop and improve their ideas, to problem solve. We want children to make mistakes. We want children to understand this is part of the design process and, by researching different designers through history, to realise no designer has ever created their final model from their first design. We want to instil resilience. We want the children to feel challenged and to have fun exploring, designing and creating.

The children of Pencoys have opportunities to explore real life examples and the context that their product may be used in the real world. This sense of purpose feeds through from the beginning of their unit with a consideration of who or what the product is for. From there, the children are encouraged to design and make their product using a wide range of resources to further encourage their own creativity.

Aims:

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:

At Pencoys, DT is taught over three half terms per year. Medium Term Planning (MTP) is supported by a ‘small steps in progression’ document for each unit. This ensures a progression in skills, knowledge and processes.

In DT at Pencoys, we follow the Early Years Foundations Stages (EYFS) for F1 and F2 classes (with particular focus on the EYFS’s strands of ‘Understanding the World’ and ‘Arts and Design’) and the 2014 National Curriculum for KS1 and KS2. We have used the Design and Technology Association’s (DATA) scheme, ‘Projects on a Page’, as a basis for our long term plans and small steps. Where appropriate, DT projects link to year group blocks of learning to enhance children’s learning; however, more importantly, each project is carefully considered and planned to ensure that the DT principles outlined below are incorporated. (See Thinking Technically document, Crofty MAT)

Each ‘project’ should include to a greater or lesser extent all of the DT principles:

• User – who the products are for

• Purpose – what tasks the products will perform

• Functionality – how the products will work

• Design Decisions – the opportunities children have to make choices

• Innovation – the scope children have to be original with their thinking

• Authenticity – how believable/real the products will be to the children

Long Term Plan

DT LTP Pencoys

Impact:

Through pupil conferencing, lesson observations, staff feedback and book looks we find:

All pupils (including SEND and disadvantaged pupils) are engaged and motivated by the learning opportunities in DT lessons.
Pupils demonstrate resilience, creativity and effective problem-solving skills.
Children are proud of the products they make.
Pupils respect and value diversity.
Pupils take responsibility for their learning and actions.

By the end of their primary education:

Pupils leave Pencoys Primary School…

with the skills to prepare and cook a meal as well as understanding the importance of a healthy and varied diet.
being able to design and make products of increasing quality.
being confident to take and manage risks and use a variety of tools to aid the making process.
understanding the importance of evaluating and improving products and designs.
with the core knowledge and skills ready to start the KS3 Design and Technology curriculum.