Design Technology
At Fossdene, Design Technology is taught at least once per term in each year group.
The principles of our DT curriculum state that DT should:
- Be taught as a practical subject.
- Use and encourage creativity and imagination through design.
- Design and make products that solve real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts
- Consider a target market, taking into account wants and needs of the consumer.
- Ensure pupils learn how to take risks, becoming resourceful, innovative, enterprising and capable citizens.
The National Curriculum for Design and Technology aims to ensure that all pupils:
- Develop the creative, technical and practical expertise needed to perform everyday tasks confidently and to participate successfully in an increasingly technological world
- Build and apply a repertoire of knowledge, understanding and skills in order to design and make high-quality prototypes and products for a wide range of users
- Critique, evaluate and test their ideas and products and the work of others
- Understand and apply the principles of nutrition and learn how to cook.
Fossdene’s teaching of Design Technology allows children to follow a process of researching, designing, creating and evaluating a product. Children engage in researching the topic area, paying attention to similar products that already exist and using this a starting point for their designs. Using their imagination and creativity, children then have the opportunity to plan their product, having a clear purpose in mind and using their research to inform their design. Children use the relevant tools and techniques to create their final product, where they have the opportunity to evaluate the efficacy of the outcome. Hygiene and safety are of paramount importance and these areas of the subject are taught in relation to the topic. Children are encouraged to use skills they have acquired during subjects such as Science and Maths in order to create their product and often link these products to their History or Geography learning.
As the skills in DT are used throughout the school year, assessment is ongoing. The skills that children acquire in each of the year groups provide a foundation for the next year, with the curriculum presenting a clear skills progression that children can build on throughout their time in primary school. Children will be assessed formatively during each of the topics, and areas for development are identified and addressed in future topics. DT is monitored by the subject lead throughout the year, in order to access the impact the teaching of DT has had and to ensure pupil progression. Regular discussions with teaching staff take place in order to continually review the effectiveness of the curriculum and adaptions are made where necessary.
2023 dt curriculum overview docx.pdf
