Design and Technology

Intent

At Saughall All Saints Primary School, it is our intention to provide a high quality design and technology curriculum that promotes creativity and imagination. We aim 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, link work to other disciplines such as mathematics, science, computing and art. The pupils are also given opportunities to explore, reflect upon and evaluate past and present design technology and are encouraged to become problem solvers in their own right.

DT is taught in all year groups in either discreet or cross-curricular projects. By the time pupils reach Year 6, they would have had experience of food tech, textiles, design and construction; they should be confidently performing everyday tasks and applying their knowledge, understanding and an increased level of skills as they progress through the school.

Implementation

EYFS

In EYFS, children are taught the relevant skills at the start of the week through teacher led discussion and modelling. Pupils are given the opportunities to practise these skills daily in the environment. 

Key Stage one 

In Key Stage one pupils are taught specific skills in textiles, construction, nurition, mechanics and electrics. Where posssible, pupils learn about the work and lives of architects and designers and use their work to influence their own. Design and Technology is usually linked to topic work, for example in Year 1&2 pupils make mangonels during a topic on William the Conqueror. All projects follow the same format, pupils will look at examples of products, then plan and make their own product and finally evaluate their own and others' work. 

Key Stage two 

In Key Stage two, pupils continue to develop the skills they have been taught in Key Stage one. Similary to Key Stage one, design and technology is linked to a topic and is usually taught during a one or two day project. Pupils follow the same format as Key Stage one but are expected to research their ideas more independently. Projects are given a purpose where possible, for example in Year 3&4 pupils design and make a school bag from recycled materials and in Year 5&6, pupils make anderson shelters linking with a WW2 topic. Outside agencies support learning where appropriate, for example in year 5&6, pupils learnt about greek food with the FunFoodChef. 

Year 3&4 pupils designed a building that could be built on the top of Snowdon mountain - this linked to a 'Snowdonia' topic. 

An Anderson shelter made by a year 6 pupil