Design Technology
Design and Technology
At St Thomas’s CE Primary School, we aim to inspire, challenge and motivate children so that they will believe in themselves to achieve their very best, and succeed in life. Design and technology is an inspiring, rigorous and practical subject. Using creativity and imagination, children design and make products that solve real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts, considering their own and others’ needs, wants and values. Children learn how to take risks, becoming resourceful, innovative, enterprising and capable citizens. Our Design Technology curriculum is built using our school curriculum drivers, and ensures that children have a rich cultural capital. It builds upon prior learning, and their enthusiasm for learning new skills in a creative manner.
We have designed a curriculum whereby our children will consider the user, the purpose and functionality of their creations, will make design decisions, innovate and evaluate their work. Our curriculum embodies 3 threshold concepts:
- Master practical techniques. This concept involves developing the skills needed to make high-quality products.
- Take inspiration from design. This concept involves appreciating the design process that has influenced the products we use in everyday life.
- Design, make, evaluate and improve. This concept involves developing the process of design thinking and seeing design as an iterative process
Our curriculum covers the skills defined in the National Curriculum by planning for progression in knowledge, skills and vocabulary.
The National Curriculum is used alongside Chris Quigley’s milestones to plan a progressive design and technology curriculum. Milestone 1 covers Year 1 and Year 2; Milestone 2 covers Year 3 and Year 4 and Milestone 3 covers Years 5 and 6. In the Early Years Foundation Stage, we follow Birth to 5 Matters. We teach the skills, knowledge and understanding through our themes.
We plan our teaching as a learning journey by providing children with opportunities over two years to reach their Milestone goal. The curriculum is organised into overarching objectives which are broken down into smaller objectives allowing children to develop understanding or apply skills from a basic level through to advancing and finally to gain a deep understanding and ability to apply their knowledge and skills at a mastery level. We ensure our teaching adapts learning for all pupils.