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Design & Technology

Intent

“Creativity is inventing, experimenting, growing, taking risks and having fun” (Mary Lou Cook). At Ashfield Junior School, we encourage pupils to become passionate, resourceful and innovative designers who are capable of taking on new risks.  Our Design and Technology North Star is that children will become innovators that will inspired to design and make products that solve real life problems.  We feel it is vital to nurture creativity and innovation through design and explore the rapidly changing world in which we all live and work.  Through our Design and Technology curriculum, pupils will acquire and apply their knowledge and understanding of materials and components, mechanisms, control systems, structures, and past and present products.  Pupils will be given opportunities to work independently and collaboratively with each other to research, design, experiment, and evaluate their designs for strengths and weaknesses.  It is our intent that pupils develop a critical understanding of the subject’s impact on daily life and the wider world.

Implementation

At Ashfield, children are prepared for tomorrow’s changing world through Design and Technology. It enables our young minds to develop into, resilient, imaginative problem solvers and thinkers who can work both individually and collaboratively. It gives individuals the ability to recognise needs and opportunities and respond to them by creating a variety of ideas, products, and systems.

Ashfield Junior School teaches Design and Technology to all year groups through at least one component per term; this must include one on food technology. All projects have a purpose, often linked with the school or local community, which can aid the user in achieving a goal.   Our Design and Technology curriculum has a clear progression of skills and knowledge so that children have the opportunity to build on their learning as they progress throughout Key Stage 2.

Our Design and Technology lessons will include:

  • A progression of D&T knowledge and skills
  • A clear sequence of learning for each unit
  • Specific D&T vocabulary for units of work and year group
  • Provide opportunities to reflect and build on prior learning
  • Develop skills for life
  • Make links with other subjects in the curriculum
  • Differentiated activities or support for children with SEND

Impact

  • Children talk passionately about their learning in D.T. and talk enthusiastically sharing their knowledge and understanding
  • Children demonstrate new knowledge and apply new skills
  • Children use and apply a range of D.T technical vocabulary
  • Children talk and produce purposeful work that demonstrates their understanding in D.T.
  • Children understand that D.T. serves a purpose to solving real-life problems
  • Children discuss their design ideas and how they can improve their work
  • Children analyse and critically evaluate their own designs and that of others

Our children will be successful and engaged in lessons because:

  • Teachers explain the purpose of D.T.
  • Teachers use assessment for learning in lessons to support all learners
  • Teachers build on a progression of skills and knowledge from the previous year
  • Teachers make links and connections with prior learning in D.T. and in other curriculum subjects
  • Teachers scaffold activities, model D.T. vocabulary and follow a sequence of learning so that all children can make progress