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Design and Technology

‘It's not just about ideas ... it's about making ideas happen!' - Scott Belsky

Our DT Curriculum can be found by clicking on this logo:

Your child’s class teacher will be able to answer any questions about your child’s DT learning. You can also speak to our DT Leader at LHPSN, Miss Bate (1HB).

Here at Lickey Hills Primary School and Nursery, we fully echo the National Curriculum program of study, working to highlight the importance of this subject within our ever changing global society. Design and Technology, within our school, is an inspiring, rigorous and practical subject. Pupils are given the opportunity to use creativity and imagination to design, make and evaluate real life practical projects in order to solve real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts, considering their own and others’ needs, wants and values. These projects all link to the areas of: Mechanisms, Structures, Textiles, Cooking and Nutrition and Electrical Circuits and are organised so each year group will work on each area at least once in every two years.

The curriculum design within our school encompasses the Golden Threads of our teaching and learning. We aim for our pupils to be global citizens, designing and creating products that could help in a variety of world-wide contexts and cultures. Additionally, our Design and Technology curriculum makes explicit links to other curriculum subjects as pupils draw on other disciplines such as mathematics, science, engineering, computing and art.

Through Design and Technology, we aim for our pupils to be bold and ambitious; learning how to take risks, become resourceful, innovative, enterprising and capable global citizens within our ever changing world.

The 3 I’s - Intent, Implementation and Impact

Intent

‘Through creativity and innovation, Design and Technology continues to shape our lives.’ - The National Curriculum

Design and Technology is an inspiring, practical and meaningful subject. At Lickey Hills Primary School and Nursery, Design and Technology will provide all pupils with opportunities to use their knowledge and skills of DT within real-life contexts. Pupils will aspire to be innovative and creative designers, using all of their STEM (Science, Technology, Maths and Engineering) experience to produce items with a real life purpose. They will identify and take on the roles of: designers, planners, engineers, architects and chefs, creating structures, mechanisms, textiles, electrical systems and food products which support the global community. Pupils will think creatively, solve problems as a team and design and make products that solve relevant problems. They will consider the needs, wants and values of consumers and evaluate their product against these needs. Additionally, pupils will be prepared to take risks and adapt their product to ensure it is the best it can possibly be for its purpose.

Implementation

Design and Technology will be taught every second half term opposite the Art Curriculum. Each half term project, lasting, on average, for a six week duration, will follow the ‘Design, Make and Evaluate’ model, exploring and investigating real life problems. Each project will specify the technical knowledge and skills to be taught including vocabulary and equipment skills. ‘Projects on a Page’ will form the basis of the projects with adaptations made to ensure our Design and Technology curriculum remains relevant to the pupils of our school.

A focus has been placed on ensuring there is continuity of progression within the Design and Technology Curriculum as pupils design, make and evaluate in all areas: structures, mechanisms, textiles, electrical systems and food products. This progression of key skills and knowledge for Design and Technology has been mapped out across the school years from EYFS to Yr. 6 and involves cross-curricular links with Mathematics, Science, Computing and Art to allow opportunity for Mastery to be worked towards.

Design and Technology lessons will be structured to allow pupils the opportunity to explore, investigate and research products that have been and are currently available; discuss their ideas within teams before generating plans; practise their skills of using key equipment and evaluate and critique theirs and others designs.

Impact

All pupils will develop the expertise of creativity, innovation and building to participate confidently in an increasingly technological world. They will apply their knowledge and understanding of design to build prototypes and products that meet the needs of a specific consumer and evaluate and test these products for effectiveness and efficiency.

All pupils will become risk takers, acknowledging how ideas and products can always be refined to benefit the consumer. They will become innovative, resourceful and resilient designers as they continually seek to improve and perfect their ideas.

This impact will be monitored through:

Evidence Folder monitoring of each year group on a termly basis
Class End of Project Assessment Records
Pupil Voice Meetings

Curriculum Corner

To gain an insight into DT in action, take a look at our Curriculum Corner article from last academic year by clicking this link: DT Curriculum Corner.