Rothley Church of England Academy

Design Technology

 Intent 

 

Our vision at Rothley Church of England Academy is to prepare our pupils to think creatively to enable them to participate in the ever-changing technologies in tomorrow’s world. Our vision is to help pupils become innovative and informed about technology.

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

-      Designer, James Dyson

Our Design Technology curriculum has been designed to ensure that it is inspiring, rigorous, and practical. We want our children to use creativity and imagination, to design and make products that solve real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts, whilst considering their own and others’ needs. We intend for all children to acquire appropriate subject knowledge, skills and understanding as set out in the National Curriculum. It is our aim to create strong cross curricular links with other subjects such as Mathematics, Science, Computing and Art. As a school, we use Projects on a Page

In our Design and Technology curriculum, children will:

ʉۢ Design - develop the creative, technical and practical expertise needed to perform everyday tasks confidently.

ʉۢ Make - build and apply a repertoire of knowledge, understanding and skills in order to design and make high quality products for a range of purposes.

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

• Use technical knowledge - learn how to strengthen, stiffen and reinforce more complex structures, understand and use mechanical systems in their products (for example, gears, pulleys, cams, levers and linkages). understand and use electrical systems in their products (for example, series circuits incorporating switches, bulbs, buzzers and motors) and apply their understanding of computing to program, monitor and control their products.

• Cooking and Nutrition - understand and apply the principles of nutrition and learn how to cook.

EYFS 

Through the area of Expressive Arts and Design, children are encouraged to explore different media (for example, paint, chalks, pencils, paper, card, lollipop sticks, glue, Sellotape etc.) and how these can be combined to create different effects. They will also develop a range of skills and techniques, including experimenting with colour, design, texture, form and function. Children are given daily access to a range of creative opportunities and enjoy our carefully planned and well-resourced creative areas both indoors and outside. Children create on both small and large scales and our outdoor environment and provision supports this well. Children are encouraged to develop their communication and language skills through talking about their creations and sharing these with others to build confidence and raise self-esteem.

Implementation

 

 

Autumn

Spring

Summer

EYFS

 

Year 1

Mechanisms

Sliders and levers

Food Technology Preparing fruits and vegetables

Textiles 

Templates and joining techniques

Year 2

Food Technology

 Preparing fruits and vegetables

Structures 

Free standing structures

Mechanisms

Wheels and axels

Year 3

Mechanical systems

 Pneumatics

Textiles

2D shape to 3D project

Food Technology

A healthy and varied diet

Year 4

Food Technology

A healthy and varied diet

Structures

Shell structures using CAD

Electrical systems

Simple circuits and switches

Year 5

Mechanical systems

CAMS

Food Technology

Celebrating culture and seasonality

Structures

Frame structures

Year 6

Food Technology

Celebrating culture and seasonality

Electrical systems

More complex switches and circuits

Textiles

Using CAD in textiles

  

- Every child from Year 1 to Year 6 has a design technology book. We give the child ownership of their book in order to foster their sense of creativity. Children use their books to develop their initial designs, to showcase their finished product and to evaluate their work.

 - Throughout Design Technology, every child is given the opportunity to learn the skills of each aspect of Design and Technology national curriculum.

- Teachers follow a clear progression of skills which ensures all children are challenged in line with their year group expectations and are given the opportunity to build on their prior knowledge.

- Opportunities to reflect and develop include self and peer-assessment, which are planned into each unit of study in KS1 and KS2.

- Effective CPD and standardisation opportunities are available to staff to ensure high levels of confidence and knowledge are maintained.

-To support teaching, staff access a range of high-quality resources which have been carefully soured, as well as comprehensive planning produced by the Design and Technology Lead in collaboration with teachers.

Impact:

It is our aim that the impact of our carefully crafted curriculum will lead to outstanding progress over time across key stages relative to each child’s individual starting points and their progression of skills. Our vision is for our ambitious Design Technology curriculum is to equip the children at Rothley C of E to be enthusiastic learners. Children will ultimately know more, remember more and understand more about Design Technology, demonstrating this knowledge when using tools or skills in other areas of the curriculum and in opportunities out of school. The children will value the process of designing, making and evaluating their products and ideas, rather than the final product. This process will develop minds ready for the future through problem solving, reflection and product development with a purpose.

We ensure that all children, including those who are achieving well, as well as those who need additional support, are identified, and additional provision and strategies are planned in and discussed with class teachers to ensure successful outcomes for all.

 

 

 

 

 

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