Design Technology

Our vision of include, inspire and achieve enables pupils to be motivated life-long learners who develop creativity and vision. They are passionate learners who are able to work constructively and productively with others.

Intent

At Starbeck Primary Academy we encourage children to use their creativity and imagination to design and make a wide range products throughout their school life. We work creatively to engage all children in the processes of designing, making and evaluating through products that link to other areas of the curriculum. Pupils are taught the knowledge, understanding and skills needed to engage in an iterative process of designing and making. We believe the design process should be rooted in real life, relevant contexts to give meaning to learning. While making, children should be given choice and a range of tools to choose freely from. Pupils are taught how to use tools safely and for a specific purpose. To evaluate, children should be able to evaluate their own products against a design criteria. Each of these steps should be rooted in technical knowledge and vocabulary.

Implementation

Learning objectives from the National Curriculum are taught through our Design Technology Progression of skills document. The progression document ensures the curriculum is covered and the skills and knowledge taught is progressive through each Key stage. From Year 1 to 5 pupils are taught three different Design Technology projects and in Year 6 two different projects. Alongside each project teachers use our DT knowledge organisers to ensure depth of knowledge, understanding and vocabulary. All teaching of DT follows the design, make and evaluate cycle and is rooted with technical knowledge. Throughout each key stage the Projects taught cover aspects of mechanisms, structures, textiles and food and nutrition. Photographs are taken of all completed projects and evidenced alongside pupils recording in Foundation books. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) follows the ‘Development Matters in the EYFS’ guidance which aims for all children in reception to be taught Expressive arts and design where pupil’s will develop imagination, creativity and their ability to use media and materials.by the end of the academic year.