Design & Technology

Design Technology

The school’s approach to DT is based on the ‘Projects on a Page’ materials produced by the D&T Association

Each project planner includes three types of activities:

• Investigative and Evaluative Activities (IEAs) where children learn from a range of existing products and find out about D&T in the wider world;
• Focused Tasks (FTs) where they are taught specific technical knowledge, designing skills and making skills;
• Design, Make and Evaluate Assignment (DMEA) where children create functional products with users and purposes in mind.

Planning

The units are taught in the order shown on the Long Term plan. 

Teachers make full use of the PDF versions of the ‘Projects on a Page’ for subject knowledge purposes.

The Project documents allow teachers to link the products made with wider topic teaching, as appropriate.

Planning and the sequence of learning follows the follow the ‘design – make -evaluate’ sequence

Units begin with a recap of prior learning and identification of aspects of the curriculum which need ‘revisiting’ in order to ensure that  key underpinning knowledge and skills are secure.

Technical Knowledge and understanding is developed over the course of each unit.

Time is also allocated to the teaching of specific skills (eg joins, use of tools etc)

The development of technical knowledge and understanding (including the use of appropriate vocabulary) is incorporated into all units of work

Books

There is evidence of the design-make-evaluate cycle in pupil work and books.

The Chilli Challenge approach is used to ensure suitable support and challenge is in place for all pupils.

Practical work is a focus of DT.   The use of photos, video clips or other means of recording may be used to record pupil’s work as appropriate.

Classroom Environment

DT is incorporated into the classroom ‘learning wall’.

DT does not appear in every unit of work, but will be evident on the STEM ‘learning wall’ during the relevant topics.

The STEM display is used to record the learning process over the course of each unit.

This includes the ‘design – make -evaluate’ process

Key vocabulary is incorporated into Chilli-Challenges, the Learning Environments and modelled by staff so as to develop the pupils’ ability to explain their ideas using the appropriate terminology.

Knowledge, skills & understanding explored in Design & Technology are learnt through the 'Develop' stage and applied where relevant in the 'Innovate & Express' stage.