Design and Technology

Design and Technology Curriculum Intent, Implementation and Impact 

 

Intent 

Our intent at Thirsk Community Primary School is that our teaching of Design Technology education will inspire creativity and imagination which will create innovative, enterprising individuals that are confident in our rapidly changing world.  We want to encourage our children to become problem solvers who can work creatively and independently. 

Our intent for the approach to Design Technology is to: 

  • Develop the practical skills and expertise to perform tasks efficiently and effectively. 

  • Develop the confidence to be able to participate successfully in an increasingly technological world. 

  • Have the skills, knowledge and to create high quality prototype and products. 

  • Be able to critique, evaluate and test ideas of their own and other others. 

  • To know, understand and apply the principles of nutrition and learn how to cook. 

  • Be able to understand and use a wide repertoire of subject specific technical language. 

At Thirsk CP School we believe that high-quality Design Technology lessons will inspire children to think independently, innovatively and develop creative, procedural and technical understanding. Our DT curriculum provides children with opportunities to research, represent their ideas, explore and investigate, develop their ideas, make a product and evaluate their work. Children will be exposed to a wide range of media including textiles, food and woodwork; through this, children will develop their skills, vocabulary and resilience.  

 

Statement of Implementation  

 

We have a clear and comprehensive scheme of work in line with the National 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.  

 

 

  • Our Design and technology subject progression trackers which outline the knowledge and vocabulary all children must master within and across year groups.  

  • Teachers have good subject knowledge and carefully plan for progression and depth.  

  • Teachers plan opportunities for questioning on topicsfor opportunities for pupils to apply their learning and develop their understanding and retention of key skills and vocabulary. 

  • Year group end of unit assessment documents help teachers to assess individual progress in DT 

  • Yearly Stem weeks and curriculum themed days/ home tasks to support, inspire and engage the children with their learning 

  • The display and celebration of children’s’ DT work in their class. 

 

Children have access to key knowledge, language and meanings to understand Design Technology and to use these skills across the curriculum. In Design Technology children are asked to solve problems and develop their learning independently. This allows the children to have more ownership over their curriculum and lead their own learning in Design Technology. English, Maths and ICT skills are taught during discrete lessons but are revisited in Design Technology so children can apply and embed the skills they have learnt in a purposeful context. 

 

 

Impact  

 

Our DT Curriculum is developing to provide well thought out lessons and topics that demonstrate progression. In addition, we measure the impact of our curriculum through the following methods:  

  • Reflection on standards achieved against the planned outcomes. 

  • Regular monitoring and feedback through, marking, observation, book trawls and learning walks 

  • Pupil discussions about their learning, which includes discussion of their thoughts, ideas, processing and evaluations of work. As designers, children will develop skills and attributes they can use beyond school and into adulthood.