Design and Technology
"The designer’s job is to imagine the world not how it is but how it should be."
Terence Conran
Curriculum Intent
The national curriculum states that design and technology (DT) in KS1 and KS2 should develop the creative, technical and practical expertise needed to perform everyday tasks confidently and to participate successfully in an increasingly technological world. It should 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. Children should critique, evaluate and test their ideas and products and the work of others.
Children also need to understand and apply the principles of nutrition and learn how to cook.
The D&T Association have further outlined the aims as follows:
"Design and Technology education helps develop children’s skills through collaborative working and problem-solving, and knowledge in design, materials, structures, mechanisms and electrical control. They are encouraged to be creative and innovative, and are actively encouraged to think about important issues such as sustainability and enterprise.”
At Wakefield Methodist School, we aim to 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. When necessary, we link work to other disciplines across the curriculum. We want to nurture our children into becoming successful innovators and effective risk-takers.
Curriculum Implementation
We deliver our aims through a variety of creative and practical activities which develop the knowledge and skills needed to engage in the iterative process of designing and making. The children work in a range of relevant contexts (for example home, school, leisure, culture, enterprise, industry and the wider environment) and within a number of design and technology themes (structures, cooking, textiles, electrical systems and mechanical systems). Our curriculum encourages children to show their curiosity, courage, compassion and conservation in how they design and make their products and their connection to the local community in what they make.
At Wakefield Methodist School, we use the DT Association's Projects on a Page to realise our aim to provide excellent teaching and learning within DT. These projects are underpinned by a clear progression of skills in both the generic skills of designing and making and within specific areas such as cooking.
Each unit is supported by a Knowledge Organiser which outlines all of the relevant key information and vocabulary that children need to know by the end of the unit. They also outline previous and future learning to help teachers set the new learning within context and establish starting points for learning.
DT has been carefully mapped across the school to ensure broad and balanced coverage and to establish relevant links to other curriculum subjects and our own locality.
Curriculum Impact
At Wakefield Methodist School our children will have the knowledge and skills necessary to move confidently to the next step of their learning journey. They will have and use the correct subject vocabulary to understand and communicate their learning in DT and express their ideas.
Through the solving of relevant problems, our children will understand the importance of design in solving some of the world's problems such as climate change and plastic pollution and how good design can prevent some issues from arising in the first place. Our children will understand the relevance of design within our own community, nationally and globally and the opportunities it presents for careers.
By following our clear design and making sequence, our children will build resilience in problem solving and develop the ability to think creatively. They will be challenged to develop original ideas as well as to build on the ideas of others when working collaboratively.
Our children will think and act like designers, intent on solving problems that positively contribute to the world in which they live.
Please click on the links below to find out more about our design technology curriculum.
Design Technology Long Term Plan 22-23