Design and Technology

Intent

Our design and technology scheme of work aims to inspire pupils to become curious, creative and innovative thinkers with a broad understanding of how products are designed and made, in other words, to think like designers and engineers. The intention is for pupils to develop the confidence to identify problems, generate ideas, plan and create products and evaluate their outcomes.

The scheme aims to raise pupils’ awareness of how design and technology shape the way they live, work and interact with the world. It encourages pupils to become resourceful, enterprising individuals who have the skills to contribute to and improve the world around them.

The scheme supports teachers in developing their subject knowledge and skills, enabling the delivery of engaging, well-informed lessons with confidence. The curriculum is designed to be both accessible and ambitious, ensuring all learners’ full participation and potential achievement.

Implementation

At Corringham CE Primary School, we use the Kapow Primary Design and Technology curriculum to provide a carefully sequenced and progressive curriculum from Reception to Year 6.

Our D&T curriculum helps children become creative and practical problem-solvers. Pupils learn to design, make and evaluate products, while developing the technical knowledge and skills needed to bring their ideas to life.

Learning is organised around four key strands:

• Design – developing ideas, considering the needs of users and communicating designs through sketches, diagrams and models.

• Make – selecting and using appropriate tools, materials and techniques safely and accurately.

• Evaluate – reviewing existing products and their own work, using feedback and design criteria to make improvements.

• Technical Knowledge – understanding how structures, mechanisms, textiles, electrical and digital systems work, alongside cooking and nutrition.

Across the school, pupils build both practical skills and subject knowledge progressively. By the end of Year 6, we aim for children to be confident, creative designers and makers who can use their knowledge to solve real-world problems.

In our curriculum, there are six key areas which pupils learn about and revisit throughout their time in our school. These are:

·       Cooking and nutrition

·       Mechanisms/ Mechanical systems

·       Structures

·       Textiles

·       Electrical systems (KS2 only)

·       Digital world (KS2 only)

Each unit follows the design process of designing, making and evaluating, with a particular focus on technical knowledge or cooking and nutrition.

Kapow follows a spiral curriculum, meaning key areas are revisited with increasing challenge and complexity. This allows pupils to build securely on previous learning. Lessons include a range of approaches, including independent, paired and group work, practical activities and digital tasks, helping to make D&T engaging and accessible for all learners.

Impact

Through our D&T curriculum, pupils develop the knowledge, practical skills and confidence to design, make and evaluate products. They become increasingly independent in selecting tools, materials and techniques and can explain and evaluate their choices.

The expected impact of following the Kapow Primary Design and technology scheme of work is that children will:

➔ Understand the functional and aesthetic properties of a range of materials and resources
➔ Understand how to use and combine tools to carry out different processes for shaping, decorating, and manufacturing products
➔ Build and apply a repertoire of skills, knowledge and understanding to produce high quality, innovative outcomes, including models, prototypes, CAD, and products to fulfil the needs of users, clients, and scenarios
➔ Understand and apply the principles of healthy eating, diets, and recipes, including key processes, food groups and cooking equipment
➔ Have an appreciation for key individuals, inventions, and events in history and of today that impact our world
➔ Recognise where our decisions can impact the wider world in terms of community, social and environmental issues
➔ Self-evaluate and reflect on learning at different stages and identify areas to improve
➔ Meet the end of key stage expectations outlined in the National curriculum for Design and technology