Design and Technology

Intent

At Liberty Primary, we encourage children to use their creativity and imagination, 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, engineering, computing and art. The children are also given opportunities to reflect upon and evaluate past and present design technology, its uses and its effectiveness and are encouraged to become innovators and risk-takers.

 

Implementation

Through a variety of creative and practical activities, we teach the knowledge, understanding and skills needed to engage in an iterative process of designing and making. The children work in a range of relevant contexts for example home, school, leisure, culture, enterprise, industry and the wider environment.

 

At Liberty Primary School children are taught to:

Design

• Use research and develop design criteria to inform the design of innovative, functional, appealing products that are fit for purpose, aimed at particular individuals or groups

• Generate, develop, model and communicate their ideas through discussion, annotated sketches, cross-sectional diagrams, prototypes, pattern pieces and computer-aided design

Make

• Select from and use a wider range of tools and equipment to perform practical tasks for example, cutting, shaping, joining and finishing accurately

• Select from and use a wider range of materials and components, including construction materials, textiles and ingredients, according to their functional properties and aesthetic qualities

Evaluate

• Investigate and analyse a range of existing products

• Evaluate their ideas and products against their own design criteria and consider the views of others to improve their work

• Understand how key events and individuals in design and technology have helped shape the world

Technical knowledge

• Apply their understanding of how to strengthen, stiffen and reinforce more complex structures

• Understand and use mechanical systems in their products

• Understand and use electrical systems in their products

• Apply their understanding of computing to program, monitor and control their products

Cooking and Nutrition

• As part of their work with food, pupils will be taught how to cook and apply the principles of nutrition and healthy eating.

 

Key knowledge and skills for D and T have been mapped across the school to ensure progression between year groups. This also ensures that there is a context for the children’s work; that they learn about real life structures and the purpose of specific examples, as well as developing their skills throughout the programme of study.

 

Impact

At Liberty Primary School we ensure the children develop the creative, technical and practical expertise needed to perform everyday tasks confidently and to participate successfully in an increasingly technological world.  Children have opportunities to build and apply a repertoire of knowledge, understanding and skills in order to design and make high-quality prototypes and products for a wide range of users and evaluate and test their ideas and products and the work of others.  Children understand and apply the principles of nutrition and learn how to cook. Children will design and make a range of products.

 

The impact of our themed curriculum will ensure that children:

• Learn how to take risks, becoming resourceful, innovative, enterprising and capable citizens.
• Develop a critical understanding of the impact of design and technology on daily life and the wider world through the evaluation of past and present design and technology.
• Understand that high-quality design and technology education makes an essential contribution to the creativity, culture, wealth and well-being of the nation.
• Instil a love of cooking - a crucial life skill that enables pupils to feed themselves and others affordably and well, now and in later life.