At Tree Tops Primary Academy, the teaching of Design and Technology is practical, inspiring and immersive. Pupils acquire a broad range of subject knowledge and draw on disciplines such as mathematics, science, computing and art. We encourage curiosity, creativity and imagination to solve real life, relevant problems which include designing and making as well as application of knowledge. Pupils develop skills by following the process of research, design, making, evaluation and improvement. As they progress, greater emphasis is placed on innovative design and the ability to critique, evaluate and test their ideas and products and the work of others. Pupils develop the creative, technical and practical expertise needed to perform everyday tasks confidently and to thrive in an increasingly technological world.
Aims
The National Curriculum for Design and 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
- The subject leader for Design Technology will meet the senior leadership team and representatives from the Trust on a regular basis to evaluate provision in order to ensure that teaching and learning in DT is outstanding. Where necessary, staff will receive coaching and training in DT.
- Carefully designed, interleaved schemes of learning in Design and Technology ensure consistency and progress of all learners.
- Clearly defined end goals are set in order to guide children to achieve their potential. This ensures work is demanding and matches the aims of the curriculum while still fulfilling the requirements of a PYP approach.
- Teaching in drawing skills will be focused on and students will be able to draw a range of 3D shapes accurately, using a ruler.
- Presentation skills will be taught to ensure that students are taking pride in their design work and in work that may be shared as part of a whole class activity.
- Students should be confident in explaining their design work to peers and teachers and acknowledge feedback as a measure of driving work and progress forward and not a criticism to hold on to.
- Students will have a clear understanding of basic health and safety procedures and how this is linked to the equipment that they use during practical sessions.
- In Design and Technology students will be confident when using equipment and understand and explain simple manufacturing processes that have been taught when completing any practical elements.
- An understanding of different material areas should also be covered in relation to; Textiles (Fabrics), Product Design (Wood/Plastic/Metal), Graphics (Paper, Board and Printing) and Food (Ingredients) gifted and talented students should be pushed for specific material names and link them to the correct material area.
- Learning is adapted and tailored to meet the needs of all pupils, including those with SEND, through adaptive teaching; including guidance from the EEF (Education Endowment foundation). Educators incorporate explicit instruction, cognitive and metacognitive strategies, scaffolding, flexible grouping and use of technology into daily classroom practice to ensure access for all.
- Children are happy learners within Design and Technology. They experience a wide range of learning challenges within the art and know appropriate responses to them. Children will enhance their problem-solving skills and use their resilience to ensure that work is amended rather than started again.
- Visits within Design and Technology have enriched the lives of the children and they are able to discuss how the experience impacted their knowledge and understanding. Children’s confidence will shine through the presentation of their work in group settings and in an individual setting.
- Children of all abilities and backgrounds achieve well in Design and Technology reflected in outstanding progress that reveals a clear learning journey. Children talk enthusiastically about their learning in Design and Technology and are eager to further their learning in the next stages of their education.
- There is a proven track record of assessment success (recorded through the Foundation Skills Assessment) that reflects the impact of deep learning.
- Fundamental British Values are evident in Design and Technology and children understand how it can celebrate differences.
- Through wider reading in Design and Technology, children will be exposed to a range of design work influenced by different design areas such as; Architecture, Chefs, Fashion Designers, Car Designers and Product Designers. (This could be achieved through looking at different media such as news published online, magazines or Design books.)