Design Technology (DT) is a subject where we learn to design, create, experiment, test, improve and evaluate.

Leader: Amy Chappelow

Intent

Through the teaching of DT, the aim is to  improve children’s engagement, creativity and provide them with opportunities to develop and extend their skills. All children will have the opportunity to express their individual ideas, thoughts and interests through a variety of mediums, equipment and resources.

Children will become more confident artists and creators understanding that there is no ‘wrong’ result/outcome and develop resilience to improving their outcomes. They will learn more about different techniques and skills and have opportunities to practice these to become more confident inventors and creators of their own works of art and projects. Where possible activities will include child-choice and be child-led to develop creativity and independence further.

                                      

Implementation

Lessons are taught in blocks by the class or PPA teachers. Planning will follow a small step approach to mastery. Children will be influenced through enrichment, after school clubs and assemblies to provide further opportunity for creativity and child-led approaches. Lessons will be exciting and creative where children can explore their ideas through different mediums, equipment and resources in a supportive style of small-step learning to build confidence and more positive outcomes.

Teachers will take photographs of the children's work and submit to the padlet to enable skills and knowledge progression to be monitored. Monitoring will also be through flip scrutiny, sketchbook scrutiny and pupil/staff voice. The curriculum overview will show progression in line with the approach document.

As part of DT children will work with food.   Pupils will be taught how to cook and apply the principles of nutrition and healthy eating. Instilling a love of cooking in pupils will also open a door to one of the great expressions of human creativity. Learning how to cook is a crucial life skill that enables pupils to feed themselves and others affordably and well, now and in later life.

                                      

Pupils will also be taught the following skills through DT lessons:

Design	use research and develop design criteria to inform the design of innovative, functional, appealing products that are fit for purpose, aimed at particular individuals or groups.  generate, develop, model and communicate their ideas through discussion, annotated sketches, cross-sectional and exploded diagrams, prototypes, pattern pieces and computer-aided design.
Make	select from and use a wider range of tools and equipment to perform practical tasks (for example, cutting, shaping, joining and finishing), accurately.  select from and use a wider range of materials and components, including construction materials, textiles and ingredients, according to their functional properties and aesthetic qualities
Evaluate	·     investigate and analyse a range of existing products. ·      evaluate their ideas and products against their own design criteria and consider the views of others to        improve their work.  ·     understand how key events and individuals in design and technology have helped shape the world.
Technical language	apply their understanding of how to strengthen, stiffen and reinforce more complex structures.  understand and use mechanical systems in their products (for example, gears, pulleys, cams, levers and linkages).  understand and use electrical systems in their products (for example, series circuits, switches, bulbs, buzzers and motors).  apply their understanding of computing to program, monitor and control their products

Impact

In classrooms you will see:

• Excitement, engagement and enthusiasm.
• Exploration of techniques and equipment.
• Children expressing their interests, ideas and thoughts with more confidence.
• Children will broaden and deepen their understanding in art and design and enjoy the varied creative opportunities.
• Evidence is collected through sketch books (where relevant) and photos (where appropriate).

Children will be able to:

• Become better creative risk takers.
• Become more resilient.
• Become more experimental and understand how to better their outcomes.
• Children will broaden and deepen their understanding in art and design and enjoy the varied creative opportunities.

Children leave Frimley:

• With a wide range of art and design skills, knowledge and techniques.
• With the ability to express their own ideas, interests and thoughts on paper and through other creative means.
• With a confident approach to creative learning (being an individual).
• Well equipped to plan and carry out creative learning and have developed their skills to achieve better outcomes.