Intent:

At St.Walburga’s Catholic Primary School we intend to build a Design Technology curriculum which develops learning and results in the acquisition of knowledge and skills. Children will know more, remember more and understand more.

We intend to design a design technology curriculum with appropriate subject knowledge, skills and understanding as set out in the National Curriculum Design Technology Programmes of study, to fulfil the duties of the NC whereby schools must provide a balanced and broadly-based curriculum which promotes the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils and prepares them for the opportunities and responsibilities and experiences for later life.

Implementation:

At St. Walburga’s, we have clear and comprehensive schemes of work in line with the National Curriculum. The Design Technology National Curriculum and EYFS is planned for and covered in full within the EYFS, KS1 and KS2 school curriculum. Whilst the EYFS and National Curriculum forms the foundation of our curriculum, we make sure that children learn additional skills, knowledge and understanding and enhance our curriculum as and when necessary.

The delivery of design and technology projects have a clear structure. Each year group undertakes a construction topic, a textile topic and a food/drink topic.  It follows the design process where each project  follows: research, design, make and evaluate.

A range of skills are taught ensuring that children are aware of health and safety issues related to the tasks undertaken and clear and appropriate cross curricular links are made to underpin learning in multi areas across the curriculum giving the children opportunities to learn life skills and apply skills to ‘hands on’ situations in a purposeful context.

Teachers ensure that focused displays are evident in their own classrooms and throughout the school alongside celebrating the outstanding three dimensional creations on display throughout the school. These displays celebrate exceptional practice and exemplify terminology and vocabulary used.

 Children have opportunities to experience independent learning: In design technology children may well be asked to solve problems and develop their learning independently. This allows the children to have ownership over their curriculum and lead their own learning in Design Technology.

Likewise, children also enjoy collaborative learning: In design and technology children may well be asked to work as part of a team learning to support and help one another towards a challenging, yet rewarding goal.

Impact:

Children have a clear enjoyment and confidence in design and technology that they will then apply to other areas of the curriculum.

Children ultimately know more, remember more and understand more about Design Technology, demonstrating this knowledge when using tools or skills in other areas of the curriculum and in opportunities out of school.

As designers children will develop skills and attributes they can use beyond school and into adulthood.