Design Technology

Please click HERE to see an overview of what Design and Technology is taught in each of the year groups.

Subject Intent 

At Whitehill Primary School, we believe that high-quality Design and Technology lessons will engage and inspire children to think innovatively, find solutions to real-life problems, see alternative methods and develop creative procedural understanding. We want our children to recognise that because something has always been done a certain way, that doesn’t mean that there are not better ways.  Our curriculum has been designed to build upon and apply a repertoire of technical knowledge, understanding and skills (drawing on disciplines such as mathematics, science, engineering, computing, art, textiles and cooking) in order to design, make and evaluate a wide variety of high-quality prototypes and products based on the principles: user, purpose, functionality, design decisions, innovation and authenticity. 

Through this inspiring, rigorous and practical subject, children will gain the expertise to take risks, and become the resourceful, enterprising and capable citizens needed to excel in an increasingly technological world. We actively encourage our children to be critical thinkers, forward planners and effective problem solvers. We also teach our children to be able to work as capable individuals and as part of a valuable, productive team. Resilience is a key theme running through our DT curriculum, and the children are encouraged to become innovators and risk takers. 

Aims & Expectations 

Through the teaching of Design and Technology we enable all children to:

• Develop creative, technical and imaginative thinking in children and to develop confidence to participate successfully in an increasingly technological world.  
• Enable children to talk about how things work and to develop their technical knowledge.  
• Apply a growing body of knowledge, understanding and skills in order to design and make prototypes and products for a wide range of users.  
• Encourage children to select appropriate tools and techniques when making a product, whilst following safe procedures.  
• Develop an understanding of technological processes and products, their manufacture and their contribution to our society.  
• Foster enjoyment, satisfaction and purpose in designing and making things.  
• Critique, evaluate and test their ideas and products, and the work of others.  
• Understand and apply the principles of nutrition and to learn how to cook.  
• Understand how key events and individuals in design and technology have helped shape the world.

All projects include the three types of activity: 

• Investigative and Evaluative Activities (IEAs) where children learn from a range of existing products and find out about D&T in the wider world. 
• Focused Tasks (FTs) where they are taught specific technical knowledge, designing skills and making skills. 
• Design, Make and Evaluate Assignment (DMEA) where children create functional products with users and purposes in mind. 

Every D&T lesson throughout the school has been carefully mapped out to ensure that all learning is sequential and progressive across the school. 

Inclusion & Equal Opportunities 

At Whitehill Primary School we expect all children to participate in Design and Technology projects. Specialist equipment and support will be sought and provided for any children who need them in order that they will be included within and have access to tasks in Design and Technology. The subject co-ordinator will liaise closely with the SENCO (Special Needs Coordinator) to ensure that all our children have differentiated access to Design. We aim to provide learning opportunities that match the needs of children with specific learning needs and those children who are gifted and talented.

Through our Design and Technology lessons we:

• Set suitable learning challenges for all learners
• Respond to children’s diverse needs by using a wide range of cultural images and products 
• Address gender stereotypes 
• Actively encourage all children’s design ideas and value all suggested ideas. 
• Adapt activities and instructions for children with special needs, disabilities and English as an additional language (EAL) 
• Encourage all children to achieve as much independence as is compatible with their disability. 
• Identify the gifted and talented children and challenge them further 
• Provide quality first teaching

Parental Involvement & Wider Community Links 

At Whitehill Primary School we enjoy taking part in workshops and learning experiences in the wider community; through which we also make cultural links.  

We especially welcome the insights and experiences of people who have Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Maths (STEAM) related professions and knowledge. As such, there are times that we invite such professionals into school to enrich our curriculum, to inspire and work with the children. 

These might be parents, grandparents, other family members, neighbours or representatives of the local community.

Resourcing, Health & Safety Considerations 

Funding for Design and Technology will be within the school budget plan for each financial year. There is a central Design and Technology budget to cover the purchase of equipment such as tools, construction kits, consumable materials, books and other resource materials. The Subject Leader will be responsible for ordering all equipment and materials. It is the responsibility of each class teacher to identify additional resource needs in relation to their project. The Design and Technology Leader will need advanced notice of any resources that need to be purchased for lessons. Any shortages, breakages or losses should be reported immediately to the Design and Technology subject leader.

The Governing Body for Whitehill Primary School is committed to its responsibilities under the ‘Health and Safety at Work Act 1974’ and all other relevant statutory regulations to provide a safe and healthy environment for pupils and staff during D&T lessons.

The safety and hygiene of the children within each class is the responsibility of the class teacher (these expectations also apply to student teachers who must be made aware of their responsibilities by both their school mentor and their professional tutor.) If for any reason this responsibility cannot be accepted, it must be discussed with the management team leader before any activities take place. 

Health and safety awareness is a central part of children’s learning in Design and Technology; children are taught about hazards, risks and risk control and how to recognise hazards.

Monitoring 

Teachers make ongoing, informal assessments in DT, using observations of children working, discussions and marking of children’s plans and ideas. 

Monitoring takes place regularly through sampling children’s work, teacher planning and lesson observations. Simple assessments are recorded at the end of each unit identifying those children who are working below, at or above age related expectations. 

The Design and Technology Leader conducts regular and robust monitoring activities including learning walks, book looks and data analysis to gauge the impact of the Design and Technology curriculum, in addition to reviewing the curriculum to ensure that it meets the needs of all learners. Staff training is provided when necessary and data findings are shared with governors and whole school staff to address gaps and improve provision for all pupils.