Design & Technology

Design & Technology is an inspiring, rigorous and practical subject. Using creativity and imagination, children design and make products to solve relevant, real-life problems, within a variety of contexts and considering their own and others’ needs, wants and values.

Intention

Aims:

The national curriculum for Design and Technology aims to ensure that all pupils:

develop the creative, technical and practical expertise need 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.

Implementation

The acquisition of a broad subject knowledge that draws on disciplines such as mathematics, science, engineering, computing and art. Children learn 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. They design, make and evaluate using technical vocabulary. Opportunities are provided for children to evaluate key events and individuals who have helped shape the world, showing the real impact of design and technology on the wider environment and helping to inspire children to become the next generation of innovators.

High quality design and technology education makes an essential contribution to the creativity, culture, wealth and wellbeing of the nation.

Impact

Pear Tree School’s design and technology curriculum aims to ensure that all children:

Develop technical, practical and creative expertise in order to perform tasks confidently and to a high standard.
Are well-prepared to participate effectively in the increasingly technological world in which they live
Build and are able to apply a repertoire of knowledge, understanding and skills to design and make high-quality prototypes and products for a range of users.
Can critique, evaluate and test ideas and products, both their own and the work of others’.
Understand the principles of nutrition, how to apply them and how to cook.

Expectations

Level Expected at the End of EYFS

Expressive Arts and Design (Exploring and Using Media and Materials)

Children safely use and explore a variety of materials, tools and techniques, experimenting with colour, design, texture, form and function.

Physical Development (Moving and Handling)

Children handle equipment and tools effectively, including pencils for writing.

Expressive Arts and Design (Being Imaginative)

Children use what they have learnt about media and materials in original ways, thinking about uses and purposes. They represent their own ideas, thoughts and feelings through design and technology, art, music, dance, role play and stories.

We have selected the Early Learning Goals that link most closely to the DT Curriculum.

Key Stage 1 National Curriculum Expectations

Key Stage 2 National Curriculum Expectations

Design

Pupils should be taught to:

design purposeful, functional, appealing products for themselves and other users based on design criteria;
generate, develop, model and communicate their ideas through talking, drawing, templates, mock-ups and, where appropriate, information and communication technology.

Make

Pupils should be taught to:
select from and use a range of tools and equipment to perform practical tasks [for example, cutting, shaping, joining and finishing];
select from and use a wide range of materials and components, including construction materials, textiles and ingredients, according to their characteristics.

Evaluate

Pupils should be taught to:
explore and evaluate a range of existing products;
evaluate their ideas and products against design criteria.

Technical Knowledge

Pupils should be taught to:

build structures, exploring how they can be made stronger, stiffer and more stable;
explore and use mechanisms [for example, levers, sliders, wheels and axles], in their products.

Cooking and Nutrition

Pupils should be taught to:
use the basic principles of a healthy and varied diet to prepare dishes;
understand where food comes from.

Design

Pupils should be taught to:

use research and develop design criteria to inform the design of innovative, functional, appealing products that are fit for purpose, aimed at particular individuals or groups;
generate, develop, model and communicate their ideas through discussion, annotated sketches, cross-sectional and exploded diagrams, prototypes, pattern pieces and computer-aided design.

Make

Pupils should be taught to:
select from and use a wider range of tools and equipment to perform practical tasks [for example, cutting, shaping, joining and finishing], accurately;
select from and use a wider range of materials and components, including construction materials, textiles and ingredients, according to their functional properties and aesthetic qualities.

Evaluate

Pupils should be taught to:
investigate and analyse a range of existing products;
evaluate their ideas and products against their own design criteria and consider the views of others to improve their work;
understand how key events and individuals in design and technology have helped shape the world.

Technical Knowledge

apply their understanding of how to strengthen, stiffen and reinforce more complex structures;
understand and use mechanical systems in their products [for example, gears, pulleys, cams, levers and linkages];
understand and use electrical systems in their products [for example, series circuits incorporating switches, bulbs, buzzers and motors];
apply their understanding of computing to program, monitor and control their products.

Cooking and Nutrition

Pupils should be taught to:
understand and apply the principles of a healthy and varied diet;
prepare and cook a variety of predominantly savoury dishes using a range of cooking techniques;
understand seasonality, and know where and how a variety of ingredients are grown, reared, caught and processed.

EYFS Key Principles Key Stage 1 Progression Year 3 & 4 Progression Year 5 & 6 Progression

Design & Technology

Intention

Implementation

Impact

Expectations

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Tel: 01270 906120 | Email: admin@peartree.cheshire.sch.uk