Design Technology
Intent
Our Design and Technology curriculum at Marlcliffe Primary School aims to develop the children’s practical skills through hands-on experiential learning. It is a subject which supports children in developing the Marlcliffe Values of resilience, resourcefulness and recognsing self-worth. Children work both independently and collaboratively in lessons to develop curiosity and the determination to design and make successful functioning products. Children are also encouraged to be reflective when evaluating their successes and planning next steps. The children will explore real-life products and also develop their problem-solving skills, take risks and innovate. Design and Technology in our school focuses on working with textiles, wood, food, mechanisms and electrical systems. During their experience of creating products, the children will develop an interest in the subject and understand the impact it has on daily lives in the wider world through considering the work of successful designers in creating the world we live in today. We want our children to be designers and technologists and understand that they can choose to be the architects, graphic designers, chefs or carpenters of tomorrow.
Implementation
Our approach to Design and Technology addresses the content of the National Curriculum, allowing children to develop the key concepts of designing, making and evaluating whilst including technical knowledge alongside vocabulary development. Each phase completes three Design and Technology projects per year with Design and Technology being taught during alternate half terms. During KS1, experiences in Design and Technology support the continued development of gross and fine motor skills which are a focus in EYFS where children learn to use small tools such as scissors, cutlery and paintbrushes. All phases experience at least one construction unit where the focus is development of skills in cutting, shaping and joining wood. Each phase develops skills in preparing and joining textiles through a progression of stitching techniques. Each phase learns about Food and Nutrition and experience preparing healthy meals from scratch, whilst the use of electrical systems is developed in Key Stage 2. Each construction project has been planned with support from HeppDT; detailed overviews have been written to ensure that the progression of skills from previous years is built upon. Within the endpoints for each unit of work, critical content has been identified. This outlines the key understanding that all children, regardless of their learning needs/barriers, are to gain by the end of the unit. Children with SEND will be particularly supported to understand this critical content, enabling them to prepare for subsequent learning in the subject. Some units are linked to learning in other subject areas such as history, computing or science which then provides the children with an additional purpose and real-world link. The topics are designed to be relevant, motivating and engaging for all children and are inclusive regardless of ability and additional needs. Due to the subject being highly practical, the children work collaboratively by working to support each other and help each to achieve a challenging yet fulfilling goal whilst ensuring safety when using tools. Safety is taught explicitly as part of each unit. Within each project, the children will develop a range of skills including being able to design, make, use tools safely and evaluate to enable them to be immersed and engaged as Designers and Technicians.
Being a confident communicator is an important curriculum driver at Marlcliffe. Every lesson includes opportunities for the children to discuss and share both previous and current learning. Key vocabulary is clearly identified on unit plans and is introduced to children throughout every lesson. In EYFS, the children will be able to build upon their practical motor skills by developing their hand-eye coordination skills as stated in the EYFS Statutory Framework as well as increasing their language development by repeating and using key vocabulary for tools to share what they have done.
Assessment of Design and Technology is ongoing within lessons through observation of learning, engagement in discussions, work in books, final products and regular retrieval activities. This supports teachers in making an overall judgement of children's attainment against the endpoints for each unit.
Impact
Our Design and Technology curriculum aims to develop our children’s key practical as well as reflective, critical thinking skills which can be adapted and used in other subjects and the wider world. Progression will be shown through planning as each lesson will ensure children build on skills from previous years and the previous lesson so their knowledge of Design and Technology will become more secure. Children’s skills will become more refined and accurate leading to an increased quality of finish on the products they design and make as they progress through each phase. Throughout the units, the children will have clear enjoyment, passion and confidence in the subject by using a range of skills and effectively evaluating their work using key vocabulary. They will then be able to adapt and use these acquired skills in future topics and other areas of the curriculum. By the time the children leave Marlcliffe, they will be able to identify appropriate tools and use them safely and accurately. They will understand and have experienced the full design, make and evaluate process, thus effectively preparing them for the demands of the secondary technology curriculum.