Design and Technology
Together, as one, we support each other to flourish and succeed
Intent
At South Crosland C.E. (A) Junior School, Design and Technology is an inspiring, creative and practical subject, which helps to prepare children to deal with tomorrow’s rapidly changing world. Our Design and Technology Curriculum encourages and motivates children to think creatively in order to solve problems, both individually and as a team, working together as one. We provide children with a variety of opportunities to solve real-life, relevant challenges, whilst equipping them with a variety of skills, through focused practical tasks, in order to enable them to flourish and succeed. Through the study of Design and Technology, children combine practical skills with an understanding of aesthetic, social and environmental issues, as well as product functionality and suitability. This allows them to reflect on and evaluate existing products, assessing their use and impact on the world. Through our carefully planned Curriculum, we aim to promote a love of Design and Technology and help to support all children to become astute and informed future consumers and potential innovators.
Implementation
At South Crosland C.E. (A) Junior School, Design and Technology is taught as a discrete subject as part of our afternoon timetable, using a blocked curriculum approach. Lessons are taught as part of a two-year cycle as upper and lower Key Stage 2 groups. This approach provides opportunities for plentiful peer support during lessons, particularly with practical tasks. Our Curriculum is specifically designed to challenge our children to think critically and create solutions to real life design problems in the modern world. Each topic follows the same format, consisting of: existing product research; design brief and specification; initial and final design ideas; making the product; and a final product evaluation. The children are equipped with the knowledge and skills required for each project, through a variety of focused practical tasks. Our school is fully equipped with a wide range of tools and materials in order to fully support the teaching and learning of our Design and Technology Curriculum.
Impact
We aim for our exciting, interesting and practical-based Design and Technology Curriculum to engage and inspire our children to become astute and informed future consumers and potential innovators. By providing children with a variety of real-life problems, each topic has a sense of purpose and direction. Children will leave Key Stage 2 with a solid understanding of the design process as well as a wide range of skills and techniques to encourage them to become independent, creative problem-solvers and to think as individuals and as part of a team-making positive changes to their quality of life.
Assessment and Reporting
Formative assessment in Design and Technology is ongoing and takes many forms throughout each lesson. Children are regularly encouraged to give feedback and constructive advice to their peers. Skills are formatively assessed by teachers in order to provide support and further guidance to pupils, where necessary. Summative assessment takes place at the end of each topic and achievement and attitude to learning are reported to parents and carers three times each year.
Assessment information is kept by the Deign Technology Subject Leader and shared with senior leaders.