At Deal Parochial, we understand that Design technology is vital in our pupils’ education as it promotes creativity, problem-solving, and critical thinking. Through practical projects, students gain hands-on experience and develop essential collaboration and oracy skills, laying a strong foundation for future innovation and challenges.
Our Design Technology curriculum provides our pupils with the opportunity to-
- Enhance creativity: Encouraging innovative thinking and problem-solving skills.
- Work collaboratively: Promoting teamwork and communication among peers.
- Develop critical thinking: Fostering analytical skills through project-based learning.
- Improve engagement: Increases motivation and interest in learning through practical applications.
We follow the ‘Projects on a Page’ scheme of work (Design Association). This scheme offers detailed planning that fosters real-life applications of design principles. Emphasising fun and engagement, these projects encourage active participation, enabling students to explore creativity while developing critical thinking skills essential for their personal and academic growth.
Our Design Technology units include:
- Textiles: Designing and making clothing or accessories.
- Structures: Creating model buildings or bridges using different materials.
- Mechanics: Designing and building moving mechanisms.
- Food Technology: Planning and preparing healthy meals.
- Electrical systems: Creating and using electrical circuits, applying them to a design brief.
Intention
In Design Technology, our school aims to inspire and engage all pupils in the design and making process, enabling them to develop:
- Creativity and innovation.
- Technical knowledge and understanding.
- Collaborative and independent problem-solving skills.
- Resilience and the ability to evaluate their own work and that of others.
We aim to develop a mastery of the following skills:
- Designing, making and evaluating products
- Developing and planning solutions
- Communicating ideas
- Working with tools to make products
- Evaluate processes and products
- Appropriate and safe use of technical equipment, tools and resources
While following these principles we will develop their knowledge of:
- Textiles and the properties of materials
- Structures and ways to combine materials to develop / enhance their properties
- Mechanical systems, including pulleys and gears
- Computer control and electrical circuits
- Healthy diet and associated cooking techniques
Pupils will develop an understanding of the following;
- How to conduct research and develop design criteria
- Using sketches and diagrams to communicate ideas
- How to select appropriate tools to build their products
- How to select appropriate materials
- Safety issues associated with tools and cooking
Implementation
We will do this by:
- Planning lessons structured around five key stages: design brief, research, design, make, and evaluate. At the outset of each unit, students receive a detailed design brief outlining the end user and the specific problem that their product aims to resolve.
- Planning a unit related to healthy eating and/or cooking, underlining our commitment to promoting a balanced and nutritious diet as an integral aspect of the curriculum.
- Encouraging all pupils to document their learning and reflections in specially designed Design Technology booklets, which facilitate deep thinking and systematic working.
- Teachers capturing photographic evidence of the final products and culinary creations, showcasing the students’ practical applications of their learning. This visual documentation is complemented by self-assessment exercises conducted by the children at the conclusion of each unit, with insights recorded in their DT booklets, providing valuable feedback for both pupils and educators alike.
Impact
The result of this is:
- Engaged and motivated pupils who are excited by this subject and recognise its value in our everyday life.
- Children who understand the importance and relevance of Design Technology in shaping and developing the world around them.
- Confident children who can effectively communicate their thoughts about the five stages of design.
- Children that can reflect on their learning journey and demonstrate their understanding using clear drawings and detailed notes.
- Children who can demonstrate and discuss the skills acquired in each year group, knowing that their learning in DT is progressing.
