Design Technology
Intent
We want to prepare our children to become educated, global citizens who will thrive in a highly complex and rapidly changing world. Our design technology curriculum fosters creativity and problem solving skills which will allow our pupils the chance to become life-long learners within society. Design Technology is a practical and inspiring subject which enables children to think of their own ideas and use trial and error methods to help them adapt their work, overcome obstacles and reach their desired goals. This process enables our pupils to feel pride and confidence in the work they have produced, simultaneously promoting their skills, knowledge, learning attributes, well-being and self-esteem. Ultimately, design technology provides children with the foundations that are needed for life-long learning.The subject supports our development of deep learning competencies (the 6Cs).
At Poplars Farm, we encourage all our pupils to foster these critical foundation skills through engaging and exciting opportunities. We inspire our pupils to design and make products which are meaningful to them and include real, relevant problems within a variety of contexts, whilst considering their own and others’ needs, wants and values. We aim to provide challenges for children that will create links to other disciplines such as mathematics, science, engineering, computing and visual art. By doing this, we are providing a broad and balanced curriculum which allows pupils to make connections between their knowledge and experiences.The Poplars Curriculum for design technology, encourages children to become innovators and risk-takers through high-quality experiences. We want them to aspire to become future inventors and designers.
The big ideas in DT
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To foster enjoyment, satisfaction and purpose in designing and making
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To develop pupils’ creativity, independence, problem solving skills and resilience
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To enable pupils to talk about their plans and ideas, discuss how things work, and to design and make their products with purpose
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To encourage pupils to understand how to keep themselves and other safe whilst selecting and using appropriate tools and techniques when making their products
Implementation
Through carefully planned lessons, children will have opportunities to learn in different ways whilst developing the skills and knowledge that is required. Opportunities will be given for children to work independently and as part of a group. They will be encouraged to share their ideas, cooperate with others, and communicate effectively in order to achieve their desired outcomes and make their final products. Children will be given support in reflecting on their own work, and the work of their peers. They will learn how to give constructive feedback and will also understand how to act upon feedback which is given to them. We recognise the importance of supporting children’s individual needs and providing scaffolds so that all children can reach their full potential. Where possible, curriculum links are made with topics to provide rich opportunities for a deeper understanding of both knowledge and skills. The progression of skills and knowledge for Design and Technology have been mapped carefully across the school to ensure that progress is made each year.
The context for the children’s work in Design and Technology is also well considered and these link to our ‘Poplars Biggest Ideas’. Our children learn about real life structures and the purpose of specific examples, linked to the topics covered. It is important to us at Poplars Farm that as well as developing children’s skills throughout the programme of study, we are simultaneously fostering children’s awareness of Design and Technology as a subject and how they can use these skills in real life circumstances within society.
Please continue reading the full Design Technology K&S document here.
Impact
Pupils at Poplars Farm will enjoy Design and Technology and will develop their confidence, skills and knowledge, enabling them to apply their learning to other areas of the curriculum. Our pupils will acquire the skills and knowledge needed to design, make and evaluate a range of products which are fit for many different purposes. Pupils will become resilient, independent, and will be confident to make choices and try new things. They will be able to adapt their methods, where necessary, in order to reach their goals. The three stages of designing, making and evaluating will develop children’s interest for future learning, provide valuable life skills and prepare them for contributing to society in their later life.
We measure the impact of our curriculum through the following methods:
- Assessing children’s understanding through regular feedback.
- Pupil discussions/interviews about their learning, for example through the use of learning process review sheets
- Images and videos of the children’s practical learning
- The class floor books
- Classroom display
- Moderation within curriculum teams. For example: use of sketchbooks to plan and evaluate,
- Annual reporting of standards across the curriculum (tracking through OTrack)