Design & Technology

Intent

At Seer Green CE School, we aim for children to recognise that design and technology is an inspiring, rigorous and practical subject, requiring the development of a broad range of subject knowledge, which draws on disciplines such as mathematics, science, engineering, computing and art. We also aim for our children to also understand that it allows for creativity and imagination and that children should learn how to take risks, become resourceful, innovative, enterprising and capable citizens. Through the evaluation of past and present design and technology, we aim to develop critical thinkers who understand its impact on daily life and the wider world.

Implementation

As a school, we will follow the Plan Bee scheme of work, which will support teachers to ensure coverage of the curriculum and progression of skills. Teachers have the flexibility to adapt planning to meet the needs of the children in their class. DT may be taught weekly or over a focused period and children will be taught the skills and knowledge needed to successfully design, make and evaluate their work.

KS1

Design: to design functional and attractive products to appeal not only to themselves, but also to other identified users.
Make: to select and use a range of tools and materials.
Evaluate: to evaluate their own designs against the design criteria and to evaluate existing products.
Technical Knowledge: to build structures, exploring how they can be made stronger, stiffer and more stable and explore and use mechanisms [for example, levers, sliders, wheels and axles], in their products.
Cooking and nutrition: to understand where food comes from and the basic principles of a healthy and varied diet. To design and prepare dishes based on this knowledge.

KS2

Design: to carry out research of existing products. To develop design criteria in order to produce a product which is fit for purpose and aimed at a specific group of people.
Make: to select and use a range of tools and materials, taking into account their product’s functional and aesthetic qualities.
Evaluate: to evaluate existing products, their own work and the work of others in order to improve their design. To have an understanding of how designers and their products have helped to shape the world.
Technical Knowledge: to apply their understanding of how to strengthen, stiffen and reinforce more complex structures, understand and use mechanical systems in their products, understand and use electrical systems in their products and apply their understanding of computing to program, monitor and control their products.
Cooking and nutrition: to have an understanding of the seasonal nature of foods, and where and how it is produced. To understand what it means to have a healthy diet. To cook and prepare a range of predominantly savoury foods using a range of techniques.

Impact

All children will be able to: 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.