Design and Technology

Intent

At Minet Junior School we intend to teach Design and Technology as an inspiring and practical subject. We intend children to use creativity and imagination to design and make products that solve real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts, considering their own and others’ needs, wants and values. We aim to, wherever possible, aim to create strong cross curricular links with other subjects, such as Mathematics, Science, Computing, and Art. We want Design and Technology to provide children opportunities to take risks, be reflective, innovative, enterprising and resilient to support them to be successful in later life.

Implementation

Through a variety of creative and practical activities, we teach the knowledge, understanding and skills needed to engage in an iterative process of designing and making. We believe that teaching pupils in practical and creative lessons how to design, make and evaluate products will help to prepare them for life after school.  Design and Technology is a crucial part of school life and learning and it is for this reason that as a school we are dedicated to the teaching and delivery of a high-quality Design and Technology curriculum.

This is implemented through:

• A well thought out, whole school, yearly overview of the DT curriculum which allows for progression across year groups in all areas of DT (textiles, mechanisms, structures, food and electrical systems)

• Well planned and resourced projects providing children with a hands-on and enriching experience

• A range of skills being taught ensuring that children are aware of health and safety issues related to the tasks undertaken

• Teachers being given ownership and flexibility to plan for Design and Technology; often teaching DT as a block of lessons to allow the time needed for the children to be critical, inventive and reflective on their work.

• Each project from Year 3 to Year 6 addressing the principles of designing, making, and  evaluating and incorporating relevant technical knowledge and understanding in  relevant contexts.

• Pupils being introduced to specific designers, chefs, nutritionists, etc. helping to engender an appreciation of human creativity and achievement and increase the  cultural capital from which they can draw in the future.

• Cultural Week explores cuisines from across the world- parents are invited to talk about their customs which include their native cuisine.

As a school, we promote Design and Technology in the wider school through a DT after school club and a weekly gardening session where the children learn about where  our food comes from by growing their own, and the importance of a balanced, healthy and  varied diet and how to prepare this. We have an allotment plot at school and each year  we aim to grow and harvest food.

Impact

We ensure children;  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 and 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. They gain a firm foundation of knowledge and skills to see them equipped to take on further learning in High School. Pupil’s skills and knowledge are assessed ongoingly by the class teacher, throughout lessons and a summative assessment is completed termly. This informs the Design and Technology coordinator of any further areas for curriculum development and support training requirements for staff.