Becoming Designers and Makers

God saw all that he made, and it was very good.

Genesis 1:31

Design and technology at Whitegate CE Primary School

Intent-

At Whitegate Primary School, we aim to develop children’s curiosity, creativity, and problem-solving skills through Design and technology. We aim to develop children’s wisdom as they learn about how the world works and how things are made. We strive to give them opportunities to take on exciting challenges and shine and grow as young inventors.

Implementation-

At Whitegate our Design and technology curriculum is built around the four main elements of the design cycle: research, design, make and evaluate. Children are immersed in the design process by researching a range of existing products and designers. Using creativity and imagination, pupils then design and make their own products that solve real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts, considering their own and others’ needs, wants, and values. Through making and evaluating the things they have designed they learn to critique and refine their ideas and find new and better ways to do things. Through this process they develop resilience and perseverance as they tackle problems and find solutions.

Our D&T curriculum is delivered through four strands; food, mechanisms and systems, textiles and structures. We give children the opportunity to complete one Design and technology project per term linked to their topic. The skills and knowledge that children develop throughout each D&T project are mapped across each year group to ensure progression. By the end of Y6, children will have had the opportunity to develop a wide set of practical skills to set them up for the future. All of our D&T projects are carefully planned out to ensure they are genuine D&T. We follow the principles of the three S's make 'something' for 'somebody' for 'some purpose'.

A memorable definition for D & T(1).png

Impact-

Through the delivery of our curriculum, children acquire a broad range of subject knowledge and draw on disciplines such as mathematics, science, engineering, computing, and art. Pupils learn how to take risks, becoming resourceful, innovative, enterprising, and capable citizens. Design and technology develops children’s life skills and helps prepare them for life in all its fullness.

Through the evaluation of past and present design and technology, they develop a critical understanding of its impact on daily life and the wider world. High-quality design and technology education makes an essential contribution to the creativity, culture, wealth, and well-being of the nation.

The aims of teaching Design and technology in our school are:

develop the creative, technical, and practical expertise needed to perform everyday tasks confidently and to participate successfully in an increasingly technological world.
build and apply a repertoire of knowledge, understanding and skills in order to design and make high-quality prototypes and products for a wide range of users.
critique, evaluate and test their ideas and products and the work of others.
understand and apply the principles of nutrition and learn how to cook.

Curriculum Coverage In EYFS, Design and technology is delivered through a range of child-initiated and adult led activities. Pupils explore a variety of materials and create different products. They are encouraged to design their products before they build. They also learn how to handle real tools safely. In KS1 and KS2 our Design and technology curriculum is based on Projects on a Page, developed by the D&T Association. This ensures full coverage of all the National Curriculum Objectives. Pupils work on 3 D&T projects over the year linked to their topic. The projects cover a wide range of D&T, including structures, mechanisms, food and textiles.
EYFS Acorns	Develop their small motor skills so that they can use a range of tools competently, safely and confidently. Use their core muscle strength to achieve a good posture when sitting at a table or sitting on the floor. Create collaboratively, sharing ideas, resources and skills. Explore, use and refine a variety of artistic effects to express their ideas and feelings. Return to and build on their previous learning, refining ideas and developing their ability to represent them. Know and talk about the different factors that support their overall health and wellbeing- healthy eating Manage their own needs- personal hygiene. Use a range of small tools, including scissors, paint brushes and cutlery. (Early Learning Goal) Safely use and explore a variety of materials, tools and techniques, experimenting with colour, design, texture, form and function. (Early Learning Goal) Share their creations, explaining the process they have used. (Early Learning Goal)
Key Stage One Rowan Birch	design products based on a design criteria communicate design ideas through talking, drawing, templates, mock-ups and, where appropriate use of ICT select from and use a range of tools and equipment to perform practical tasks select from and use a wide range of materials and components, including construction materials, textiles, and ingredients. explore and evaluate a range of existing products evaluate ideas and products against design criteria build structures and explore how they can be made stronger, stiffer and more stable explore and use different mechanisms Use the basic principles of a healthy and varied diet to prepare dishes understand where food comes from
Key Stage Two Elder Hawthorn Oak	use research and develop a design criteria to inform the design of products communicate design ideas through discussion, annotated sketches, cross-sectional and exploded diagrams, prototypes, pattern pieces and computer-aided design. select from and use a wide range of tools and equipment to perform practical tasks select from and use a wide range of materials and components, including construction, materials, textiles and ingredients investigate and analyse a range of existing products evaluate ideas and products against design criteria and consider the views of others to improve their work understand how key events and individuals in design and technology have helped shape the world apply understanding of how to strengthen, stiffen and reinforce more complex structures understand and use mechanical systems in products understand and use electrical systems in products apply understanding of computing to program, monitor and control products understand and apply the principles of a healthy and varied diet prepare and cook a variety of savoury dishes using a range of cooking techniques understand seasonality, and know where and how a variety of ingredients are grown, reared, caught and processed.

Curriculum Coverage

In EYFS, Design and technology is delivered through a range of child-initiated and adult led activities. Pupils explore a variety of materials and create different products. They are encouraged to design their products before they build. They also learn how to handle real tools safely.

In KS1 and KS2 our Design and technology curriculum is based on Projects on a Page, developed by the D&T Association. This ensures full coverage of all the National Curriculum Objectives. Pupils work on 3 D&T projects over the year linked to their topic. The projects cover a wide range of D&T, including structures, mechanisms, food and textiles.

EYFS

Acorns

Develop their small motor skills so that they can use a range of tools competently, safely and confidently.
Use their core muscle strength to achieve a good posture when sitting at a table or sitting on the floor.
Create collaboratively, sharing ideas, resources and skills.
Explore, use and refine a variety of artistic effects to express their ideas and feelings.
Return to and build on their previous learning, refining ideas and developing their ability to represent them.
Know and talk about the different factors that support their overall health and wellbeing- healthy eating
Manage their own needs- personal hygiene.
Use a range of small tools, including scissors, paint brushes and cutlery. (Early Learning Goal)
Safely use and explore a variety of materials, tools and techniques, experimenting with colour, design, texture, form and function. (Early Learning Goal)
Share their creations, explaining the process they have used. (Early Learning Goal)

Key Stage One

Rowan

Birch

design products based on a design criteria
communicate design ideas through talking, drawing, templates, mock-ups and, where appropriate use of ICT
select from and use a range of tools and equipment to perform practical tasks
select from and use a wide range of materials and components, including construction materials, textiles, and ingredients.
explore and evaluate a range of existing products
evaluate ideas and products against design criteria
build structures and explore how they can be made stronger, stiffer and more stable
explore and use different mechanisms
Use the basic principles of a healthy and varied diet to prepare dishes
understand where food comes from

Key Stage Two

Elder

Hawthorn

Oak

use research and develop a design criteria to inform the design of products
communicate design ideas through discussion, annotated sketches, cross-sectional and exploded diagrams, prototypes, pattern pieces and computer-aided design.
select from and use a wide range of tools and equipment to perform practical tasks
select from and use a wide range of materials and components, including construction, materials, textiles and ingredients
investigate and analyse a range of existing products
evaluate ideas and products against design criteria and consider the views of others to improve their work
understand how key events and individuals in design and technology have helped shape the world
apply understanding of how to strengthen, stiffen and reinforce more complex structures
understand and use mechanical systems in products
understand and use electrical systems in products
apply understanding of computing to program, monitor and control products
understand and apply the principles of a healthy and varied diet
prepare and cook a variety of savoury dishes using a range of cooking techniques
understand seasonality, and know where and how a variety of ingredients are grown, reared, caught and processed.

If you have any questions about our Design and technology curriculum, please contact Miss Daniels (subject lead) via the school office.

Thank you.

Files to Download

DT Progression Grid Design and Technology Policy our-whole-school-design-technology-curriculum-overview.doc 2024-2025.docx

Becoming Designers and Makers

Files to Download

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