Design & Technology
Children develop skills in the key areas of food, textiles, construction and modelling. These are taught
throughout the year so as to best link the products made to the children’s work across the curriculum in
subjects such as History, Geography and Science. Children are taught to develop, plan and communicate
their ideas. They are also required to evaluate their work and see how it can be improved.
Intent:
At St Agnes, we aim to deliver an engaging, practical and problem solving based Design Technology
curriculum and to offer children a chance to use creative thinking, where they follow a design, make and
evaluate system. We intend on delivering a broad and balanced curriculum and through delivering
engaging and creative DT lessons the children will be exposed to a variety of skills and techniques they can
harness throughout their future lives/careers.
Implementation:
Teaching of Design Technology in Early Years Foundation Stage
Children are taught to represent their own ideas, thoughts and feelings through Design Technology, Art,
Music and Dance.
Children are able to recognise that a range of technology is used in places such as homes and schools and
can use technology for particular purposes.
Children learn about similarities and differences in relation to places, objects, materials and living things
and use ICT to interact with age-appropriate computer software.
Teaching of Design Technology in Key Stage 1 & Key Stage 2
Through a variety of creative and practical activities, children are taught the knowledge, understanding
and skills needed to engage in a developing process of designing and making. We have adapted the
KAPOW scheme of work to suit our pupils and over a long term plan this enables them to progress and
build upon skills previously taught. They work in a range of relevant contexts suitable for the topic they
are covering, (for example in Year 1 whilst constructing windmills they will be taken outside to connect the
reasoning behind the mechanisms used to enable the windmill to work.)
Given the firm connections between Design Technology and many other foundation and core curricular
subjects, a cross-curricular approach is often taken to the planning and delivery of this subject. (For
example in Year 2 the topic of Balanced diet is often linked to healthy Eating in Science.)
It is through the planning and provision of a broad and balanced Design Technology curriculum that pupils
are encouraged to investigate, plan, adapt and evaluate their own work, to help them appreciate design as
being a dynamic and ever changing process. Pupils learn to consider purpose and audience. Within projects,
pupils work independently and collaboratively, which develops their co-operation and understanding of
people having different areas of strength and expertise. Pupils develop a knowledge and understanding of
materials, mechanisms and structures, in order to make informed decisions relating to their products. They
also learn how to use a variety of tools in a safe and supervised environment. Throughout their Design
Technology work, children are supported in becoming reflective learners, celebrating their successes and
learning from their experiences.
Impact:
Children will learn a wide range of Design Technology skills, from cooking and nutrition, construction and
mechanisms, to electricity and sowing. These skills are integral life skills that will provide a basis for the real
world.
Children will be competent at designing and assessing each other’s work and skills, creating children who
are confident self and peer-evaluators.
Children will be confident, motivated and resilient learners, developing new skills at an age-appropriate
level. They will experience memorable and relevant opportunities to develop skills while solving real-life
problems and thinking of new, innovative inventions.
