Design Technology
Together, we take our children on a journey that is engaging, exciting and empowering for all.
The leader for DT in our school is: Mrs Kathryn Harvey
At Sandiway Primary School we aim to:
Engage: Provide opportunity for all pupils to explore their own creative, technical and practical expertise (and that of others) to then make products that solve real and relevant problems.
Excite: Develop all pupils’ interest and enjoyment of DT, helping children understand how DT education makes an essential contribution to creativity, culture, wealth and well-being of the nation.
Empower: Ensure pupils experience a progressive curriculum that enables them to design, make and evaluate products using their technical knowledge and understanding of cooking and nutrition.
What does our curriculum look like for DT?
At Sandiway Primary School, DT is taught using the National Curriculum objectives. We have used the 'Planning on a Page' schema produced by the DT Association as a basis for our curriculum. This is then tailored to meet the needs of the children in our school. This particular scheme has been chosen as it provides clear progression across school and there is a wealth of subject support for staff to ensure high quality teaching and learning is in place. More detailed medium term planning is available in school. Termly enquiry questions are set for the children to explore, making learning memorable by giving them opportunity to return to and reflect upon their learning.
How is DT structured at Sandiway Primary School?
Our DT curriculum is progressive in the processes of investigating and evaluating activities, focused tasks, designing, making and evaluating. Children are given opportunity to practise and implement both their practical skills and technical knowledge to make a variety of products for a variety of purposes and audiences. Additionally, pupil’s build upon their knowledge and skills in cooking and nutrition. Memorable learning experiences encourage life skills that may be applied in and out of the school setting.
A diverse range of starting points are used, and significant architects/engineers/craftspeople are researched, including those with a British Heritage. Children are given opportunity to explore, experiment and practise; learning through the teaching sequence of revisiting, teaching, practising and applying
Pupils are taught to understand and use accurate, technically appropriate vocabulary based on the objectives and skills being taught.
How do we enrich DT?
Regular STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) events and Art & Design based weeks that link to DT are undertaken across school. These cover a variety of curriculum areas (British Values, SMSC, English, science, maths, well-being etc). Children are given opportunity to evaluate their own work and we encourage our children to be tolerant and responsible citizens through the understanding that people's design ideas and products are unique and therefore commands respect. Extra-curricular and enrichment activities are regularly offered to promote DT (STEM club, Lego workshops, links to the local high school etc).
How do we provide for all learners in DT?
The DT curriculum delivery is equitable and appropriate for all groups ensuring full access and parity for all pupils. Through our teaching and learning of DT, all children have a positive view of the subject and are able to enthusiastically demonstrate their creative, technical and practical skills.
Children are supported when necessary to enable full access to their learning in art and the most able are challenged to ensure everyone can fulfill their potential within the subject. Children have a secure knowledge and understanding of how DT can contribute to creativity, culture, wealth and well-being within our school and across the wider environment.
How do we assess DT?
Children are given opportunity to evaluate their own and others work with empathy and compassion. All children have knowledge and understanding of a number of artists/crafts people that they can draw upon to support their own work.
DT work is assessed termly by class teachers. Judgements are made in relation to how children have approached and accomplished the enquiry questions set within each termly theme.
Subject Leaders monitor the progress of DT through work scrutiny of topic books, pupil voice, work displayed etc. Children’s progress and next steps for the subject then become evident.
Autumn Term 2021