Design Technology
"Good design is a renaissance attitude that combines technology, cognitive science, human need and beauty to produce something that the world didn't know it was missing"
Paola Antonelli
Design Technology is an inspiring, rigorous and practical subject. Using creativity and imagination, pupils design and make products that solve real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts, considering their own and others’ needs, wants and values. Our children acquire a broad range of subject knowledge and draw on disciplines such as mathematics, science, engineering, computing and art. They learn how to take risks, becoming resourceful, innovative, enterprising and capable citizens. 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 National Curriculum for design technology aims to ensure that all pupils:
- 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
Pupils at our school value the role Design technology plays in their lives and consequently achieve well in their own designing endeavours. We have acquired the Kapow scheme of work which we to teach standalone Art and Design & Technology.
It is intended that work of Key Stage 2 will build on and develop the skills learned in Key Stage 1. Children will be taught the skills and knowledge needed to successfully design and make and evaluate their work.
- Design: to carry out research of existing products. To develop design criteria in order to produce a product which is fit for purpose and aimed at a specific group of people.
- Make: to select and use a range of tools and materials, taking into account their product’s functional and aesthetic qualities.
- Evaluate: to evaluate existing products, their own work and the work of others in order to improve their design. To have an understanding of how designers and their products have helped to shape the world.
- Technical Knowledge: to apply their understanding of how to strengthen, stiffen and reinforce more complex structures, understand and use mechanical systems in their products, understand and use electrical systems in their products and apply their understanding of computing to program, monitor and control their products.
- Cooking and nutrition: to have an understanding of the seasonal nature of foods, and where and how it is produced. To understand what it means to have a healthy diet. To cook and prepare a range of predominantly savoury foods using a range of techniques.
