DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY
‘Design and technology is an inspiring, rigorous and practical subject.’
DFE, National Curriculum
INTENT
At Fairfield Primary School we aim to provide children with a DT education that is relevant in our rapidly changing world. We want to encourage our children to become problem solvers who can work creatively on a shared project. We believe that high-quality DT lessons will inspire children to think independently, innovatively and develop creative, procedural and technical understanding. Our DT curriculum provides children with opportunities to research, represent their ideas, explore and investigate, develop their ideas, make a product and evaluate their work. Children will be exposed to a wide range of media including textiles, mechanical structures, cooking and nutrition; through this, children will develop their skills, vocabulary and resilience.
Structures
Year 2 designed and made their own lighthouses.
Lots of problem solving and collaboration.
IMPLEMENTATION
At Fairfield Primary School we have a clear and comprehensive scheme of work in line with the National Curriculum. Whilst the EYFS and National Curriculum forms the foundation of our curriculum, we make sure that children learn additional skills, knowledge and understanding and enhance our curriculum as and when necessary. Children’s interests are captured through their learning projects, ensuring that links are made in a cross curricular way and also linking to our school values, giving children motivation and meaning and resilience for their learning. For example, in Year 5 science, thinking about ‘Does everything that goes up always come down? Then designing and making parachutes in DT. Language rich environments encourage respectful shared talk and explanations about their ideas and creations. This allows the children to have more ownership over their curriculum and lead their own learning in Design Technology. English, Maths and ICT skills are taught during discrete lessons but are revisited in Design Technology so children can apply and embed the skills they have learnt in a purposeful context.
Textiles
Year 1 designed and made their own finger puppets. Lots of fun and resilience was shown.
IMPACT
Our DT Curriculum at Fairfield Primary School is developing to provide well thought out lessons and topics that demonstrate progression. As designers, children will develop skills and attributes they can use beyond school and into adulthood.
In addition, we measure the impact of our curriculum through the following methods:
- reflection on standards achieved against the planned outcomes;
- assessment and moderation of those standards at the end of each term.
- pupil discussions about their learning, which includes discussion of their thoughts, ideas, processing and evaluations of work.
- pupils use of technical DT vocabulary
- pupils being able to reflect on their knowledge and further develop their ideas.
- working collaboratively and practically to investigate and experiment
- achieving age related expectations in Design Technology at the end of their cohort year.
Frame Structures & Switches
Year 6 planned and designed a night light which linked with Science.
Celebrating culture through Cooking
Year 5 made delicious ‘Rocky Road’ treats as part of their ‘Fair Trade’ learning
‘High-quality design and technology education makes an
essential contribution to the creativity, culture, wealth and well-being of the nation.’
DFE, National Curriculum
Design and Technology Lead: Paula Goulding
Design and Technology Curriculum MapDesign and Technology PolicyDesign & Technology Progression Document