Intent

Design and technology encourages children to use creativity and imagination to design, make and evaluate products in a variety of contexts. Children will have the opportunity to solve problems, drawing on their own, or others’ experiences in order to consider how to improve existing products.

Children learn a variety of skills across four different areas: mechanisms, structures, textiles and cookery. These skills are developed and built upon each year. Cookery lessons focus on seasonality and developing an understanding of where food comes from. Each topic follows a set sequence of lessons – explore, design, create, evaluate. Our main aim for the D&T curriculum is that children are encouraged to be resourceful, resilient and innovative and that we engender an appreciation of human creativity and achievement.

Implementation

At Barford St. Peter's Design Technology is taught as part of a half-termly learning themes. Children are taught in a clear sequence of 'Explore - Design - Make - Evaluate'. They develop their technical knowledge and learn skills in the 4 main areas of:

• Textiles
• Structures
• Mechanisms & Electrical Systems
• Cookery

Key individuals and historical products and concepts are explored in order to inform children's designs. Key vocabulary is taught and referred to throughout each sequence of learning. Children are taught to use a wide range of materials and tools as they progress through the school. Children also learn to evaluate their work against the product criteria. 

Impact

Children will have an appreciation of the design process and how certain products have shaped the world we live in. They will have a solid understanding of technical knowledge such as sewing, cooking, joining and cutting materials that will allow them to become more competent in these practical skills throughout school. They will also have developed a critical eye, able to constantly evaluate their work, deciding how fit for purpose it is and whether any improvements can be made.