Design & Technology
Statement of Intent
At Hill Top Primary Academy, it is our belief that D&T should offer the children the opportunities to think creatively in order to design with a defined purpose; to solve real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts.
Pupils will be taught the knowledge, skills and understanding, as set out in the National Curriculum, which are needed to engage effectively in the process of designing and creating their own products. They will be given a wide range of opportunities to evaluate products used in their everyday life. Pupils will learn how to select and use appropriate tools safely and effectively.
Through the study of D&T, pupils will also draw upon a range of other subjects such as Science, Art, Computing and Maths. We want Design and Technology to prepare our children for and give them the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences they need to be successful in later life.
Implementation
At Hill Top Primary Academy, we provide all children with a broad balanced, high quality curriculum which allows them to develop knowledge and skills in all areas of D&T while endeavouring to cover the National Curriculum and the EYFS curriculum. This is implemented through:
- A well thought out, whole school, yearly overview of the D&T curriculum using the Kapow Scheme of Work which allows for clear progression across year groups in all areas of D&T (textiles, mechanisms, structures, food, the digital world and electrical systems)
- Well planned and resourced projects providing children with a hands-on and enriching experience
- The promotion of a language rich Design & Technology curriculum, essential in the successful acquisition of knowledge and understanding in D&T. Children are given access to and are encouraged to use an accurate and rich D&T vocabulary throughout school.
- A range of skills being taught ensuring that children are aware of health and safety issues related to the tasks undertaken
- Teachers being given ownership and flexibility to plan for Design and Technology. Depending on the particular topic, the teaching of D&T may be planned weekly for half a term or planned as a block of lessons to allow the time needed for the children to be critical, inventive and reflective on their work.
- Each project from Year 1 to Year 6 addressing the principles of designing, making, and evaluating and incorporating relevant technical knowledge and understanding in relevant contexts.
- Teaching the knowledge and skills of cooking, a crucial life skill. All children have the opportunity to take part in cooking lessons. Through these experiences, they are able to apply the principles of nutrition and healthy eating.
- Pupils being introduced to specific designers, chefs, nutritionists, etc. helping to engender an appreciation of human creativity and achievement and increase the cultural capital from which they can draw in the future.
Educational visits are an opportunity for teachers to plan for additional design and technology learning outside the classroom. At Hill Top Academy, the children have opportunities to experience Design and Technology after school once a week which incorporates design, creativity and CAD models.
Impact
The children in our school will use subject specific vocabulary when talking about Design and Technology. Progress in D&T is demonstrated through regularly reviewing photographs / videos that have been uploaded. This allows clear progression to be documented and acknowledged. We also monitor progression through talking to the children about what they know and quizzing them at the start and end of a topic. These quizzes focus on key vocabulary across the topic.
Pupils will leave our school equipped with a range of skills to enable them to succeed in their secondary education and to be able to enjoy and appreciate Design and Technology throughout their lives.
All children will meet the end of Key Stage expectations outlined in the National Curriculum for Design Technology, as lessons are well sequenced, challenging and provide a safe learning environment for everyone.