Aston by Sutton Primary SchoolDesign Technology
Design and Technology Curriculum Intent:
At Aston, we believe that Design and Technology prepares children to take part in the development of the rapidly changing world. Creative thinking encourages children to make positive changes to their quality of life. The subject encourages children to become innovative and creative thinkers and problem-solvers, both as individuals and as part of a team.
At Aston, through the study of Design and Technology children combine practical skills with an understanding of aesthetic, social and environmental issues. This allows children to analyse and evaluate past and present designs, its uses and its impacts. Design and Technology helps all children to become discriminating and informed consumers and potential innovators.
Through Design and Technology lessons, children learn to produce practical solutions to real problems and develop technical understanding and making skills, they learn about design methods and investigate their environment and the materials around them.
Communication is vital in Design and Technology; children are encouraged to listen to the ideas of others, and treat them with respect, to critically evaluate existing products, both their own work and those of others. They have the opportunity to use a wide range of materials and resources, including ICT.
Design and Technology Curriculum Implementation:
Schemes of Work: The Design and Technology Association schemes of work are used at Aston by Sutton which are in line with the National Curriculum. Lessons are planned for and the Design and Technology National Curriculum content is covered throughout KS1 and KS2. All pupils in the EYFS are taught DT as an integral part of the play-based learning covered during the academic year.
DT projects have a clear structure; over KS1 and KS2, children design, make and evaluate a range of products with a focus on textiles, structures, mechanisms, electrical systems and cooking and nutrition.
Each year group has one food project each year.
Within each project, health and safety is taught and revisited.
Basic Skills: Cross-curricular links are made to give children opportunities to apply and embed skills from other areas of the curriculum and use their skills in purposeful contexts.
Language: Technical vocabulary is taught, which is essential to acquire a rich knowledge and understanding of DT.
Independent Learners: Children solve problems, take risks and think innovatively.
Collaborative Learning: Children work as part of a team when designing and making. They use skills to negotiate, learn how to work with others and respect and value the work and opinion of others.
Capital Culture: Opportunities are mapped out across the curriculum for pupils to learn about the essential contribution made by both men and women of different races, ethnic groups and religious beliefs to the creativity, culture, wealth and well-being of the nation.
Enrichment: Visits and visitors are arranged to provide our children with first-hand, purposeful experience to support and develop their learning.
Design and Technology Curriculum Impact:
Children at Aston will know more, understand more and remember more about Design Technology.
Children will develop a range of life skills, which they can use and develop beyond school life.
Children will display confidence and enjoyment in Design and Technology.
Children will use and apply skills across the curriculum, making meaningful connections in purposeful contexts.
Respect – Inspire – Achieve
Through Design Technology, all of our learners have the opportunity to reflect our Values of Respect – Inspire – Achieve by
Respect - We respect other people's methods and different approaches, we respect that learning is a journey and we won't always get it right first time.
Inspire - We are inspired by designers from history and apply their thinking to our work, we inspire others by sharing our methods and ideas with them, we take on challenges and are positive about our learning.
Achieve - We push ourselves to achieve the very best that we can through considering the purpose and users of our products, we strive to achieve better products over time by applying what we have previously learned.