Intent

At Garden Suburb Junior School, children receive a design technology curriculum that allows them the opportunity to be creative. Children are taught to combine the skills of designing and making in order to produce products. Skills are taught progressively to ensure that all children are able to learn, practise and develop as they move through the school. The evaluation process is an integral part of design and is a key skill, which they will need throughout their life.

The design technology curriculum provides all children with the opportunity to develop their critical thinking and problem-solving skills which they will need in industry, enterprise and the wider environment. At our school, design technology allows children to apply the knowledge and skills learned in other subjects, particularly maths, science, computing and art. We ensure that cross curricular links are made.

Through our Design technology curriculum we intend to:

• Prepare children to flourish in an ever-changing technological world
• Encourage children to become creative and resourceful problem solvers in real life contexts
• Develop critical thinkers to have an understanding of how design and technology is shaping the modern world
• Facilitate for all children to produce creative work, exploring ideas and recording experiences
• Provide opportunities to design, make and evaluate work
• Provide opportunities to work collaboratively
• Ensure that the correct technical vocabulary is developed

Implementation

The children design and create products that consider function and purpose which are relevant to a range of sectors (for example, the home, school, leisure, culture, enterprise, industry and the wider environment). Design and technology lessons are taught in blocks so that children’s learning is deep and builds on prior skill development.

To deliver our Design technology curriculum the children are taught technical knowledge in order to design, make and evaluate:

Design:
• Use research and develop criteria to inform the design of innovative, functional and appealing products that are fit for purpose, aimed at particular audiences
• Generate, develop, model and communicate ideas through discussion, annotated sketches, cross-sectional diagrams, prototypes and pattern pieces

Make:
• Select from and use a wide range of tools and equipment to perform practical tasks accurately
• Select from and use a wide range of materials, ingredients and components

Evaluate:
• Investigate and analyse a range of existing products
• Evaluate their ideas and products against their own design criteria and consider the views of others to improve their work

Technical knowledge:
• Apply understanding of how to strengthen, stiffen and reinforce complex structures
• Understand and use mechanical and electrical systems in products
• Understand some of the ways that food can be processed and the effect of different cooking practices

Enrichment

We find opportunities for enrichment within DT such as Robotics Club, where children learn to code robots with the ‘Lego We Do’ sets.

Impact

Children learn how DT contributes to shaping our history, and the contribution it makes to the culture, creativity, wealth and the well-being of our nation. Children learn how to take risks, become resourceful, enterprising and capable citizens and they understand how design and technology has developed throughout time. Children gain a critical understanding of how DT impacts their daily life and the wider world. It is our aim that children will remember and revisit knowledge and skills taught within each DT project. They will understand how to use and apply these skills to their own projects. The Design technology curriculum at Garden Suburb Junior school contributes to children’s personal development in innovation, independence, judgement and self-reflection.

The impact of our Design technology curriculum is measured by:

• Outcomes of children’s learning in their DT books
• Interviewing children about their learning (promoting pupil voice)
• Children being able to participate successfully in an increasingly technological world
• Children acting as responsible designers and makers, working ethically and using materials and equipment safely
• Children having the ability to apply mathematic knowledge and skills accurately where necessary
• Children communicating a passion for the subject
• Children being able to test their ideas confidently and work well with others

Assessment:

Teachers use formative assessment throughout DT lessons to inform future lessons; ensuring children are supported and challenged appropriately. We record progress and outcomes in DT books.