Design and Technology at Water Leys

"Design and Technology should be the subject where mathematical brainboxes and science whizzkids turn their bright ideas into useful products."

James Dyson

Intent – What we are trying to achieve?

• At Water Leys Primary School, it is our intent that Design and Technology encourages children to learn to think and intervene creatively to solve problems both as individuals and as members of a team.

• 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 – How do we translate our vision into practice?

• All teaching of DT follows the design, make and evaluate cycle. Each stage is rooted in technical knowledge.

• Skills are taught progressively to ensure that all children are able to learn and practice in order to develop as they move through the school.

• The design process is rooted in real life, relevant contexts to give meaning to learning. The children are taught to combine their designing and making skills with knowledge and understanding in order to design and make a product. Pupils use research and develop design criteria to design for a purpose and communicate their ideas through a range of mediums.

• While making, children are required to use a wide range of tools and equipment with accuracy and use a wide range of materials and components according to their qualities

• Evaluation is an integral part of the design process and allows children to adapt and improve their product, this is a key skill which they need throughout their life. Pupil evaluate their ideas and products against their own design criteria and consider the views of others to improve their work.

• Where possible our D&T teaching links to other areas of the curriculum enabling pupils to deepen their knowledge. For example, in Year 3 the children will design and make mini-greenhouses which links directly to their science unit on plants and in Year 4, the children produce light up signs developing their knowledge of electrical circuits covered as part of their science curriculum. Our D&T curriculum develops and builds the knowledge and skills learned in other subjects, particularly Maths, Science and Art.

• Children’s interests are captured through theme learning, ensuring that links are made in a cross curricular way, giving children motivation and meaning for their learning.

• Children will learn basic cooking skills to enable them to cook a meal by the end of KS2.

Impact – What is the impact of our curriculum on the students?

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.

• 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 critique, evaluate and test their ideas and products and the work of others.

• Understand and apply the principles of nutrition and learn how to cook.

• Children learn how to take risks, becoming resourceful, innovative, enterprising and capable citizens. Through the evaluation of past and present design and technology, they develop a critical understanding of its impact on daily life and the wider world.

By the time children leave our school they will also have developed:

• An excellent attitude to learning and independent working.

• The ability to use time efficiently and work constructively and productively with others.

• The ability to carry out thorough research, show initiative and ask questions to develop an exceptionally detailed knowledge of users’ needs.

• The ability to act as responsible designers and makers, working ethically, using finite materials carefully and working safely.

• A thorough knowledge of which tools, equipment and materials to use to make their products.

• The ability to apply mathematical knowledge and skills accurately

Water Leys' Design and Technology Overview