Design Technology

Intent 
Design and Technology is an inspiring, creative and practical subject which encourages children to learn to think creatively to solve problems both as individuals and as members of a team. At Aylesham, we encourage children to use their creativity (school value) and imagination, to evaluate, design and make products that solve real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts whilst considering their own and others’ needs, wants and values. We aim to, wherever possible, link work to other areas of the curriculum; such as mathematics, science, engineering, computing and art. The children are also given opportunities to reflect upon and evaluate past and present designs, as well as thinking critically as to how designs can be improved and are being encourage to be innovators. They also consider the range of technology available (within school and the wider world), its uses, effectiveness and environmental impact. They demonstrate their learning through authentic outcomes which connect their knowledge and skills with real world problem solving.    

Implementation 
Through a variety of creative and practical projects (based on the Design and Technology Association’s Projects on a Page), we teach the knowledge, understanding and skills needed to engage in a continually developing process of designing, evaluating, testing and making. The children design and create products that consider function and purpose and which are relevant to a range of sectors (for example, the home, school, leisure, culture, enterprise, industry and the wider environment). 

When designing and making, the children are taught to: 

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.  

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, as well as chopping and slicing) accurately. 
• Select from and use a wider range of materials, ingredients and components, including construction materials, textiles and ingredients, according to their functional properties, aesthetic qualities and, where appropriate, taste. 

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 Computer Aided Design to their products. 
• Understand the importance of healthy eating, the seasonality of ingredients and how to safely prepare savoury dishes.  

Key skills and key knowledge for Design and Technology have been mapped across the school to ensure progression between phases (KS1, LKS2 and UKS2). The context for the children’s work in Design and Technology is also well considered and children learn about real life contexts and the purpose of specific examples, as well as developing their skills throughout the programme of study.  

Impact 
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. 

* Encounter a range of Design and Technology themes and these skills progress through the phrases; including, Mechanisms, Food, Textiles, structures and electrical systems.  
* Understand and apply the principles of nutrition and learn how to prepare food safely.  

Teachers will ensure that children have access to the range of Design and Technology activities and use opportunities within Design and Technology to challenge stereotypes. Inclusion will be at the heart of Design and Technology lessons and will be considered to enable all children to achieve their full potential within Design and Technology.  

Creativity promotes critical and analytical thinking, empowers students, develops self-esteem and forges connections between the different subjects as school and between school life and the wider world. Becoming creative thinkers enables young people to think and act independently and encourages entrepreneurial and innovative thinking, skills which are increasingly important in a competitive and changing world. 

Children will use a sketch book for different purposes, including recording observations, planning and shaping ideas. Our children will learn and understand that sketchbooks are places to explore personal creativity, as such they should be experimental, imperfect, ask questions and demonstrate inquisitive exploration. We will encourage children to use sketchbooks for recording observations, developing ideas, testing material, planning and recording information. They will also use them to engage in open-ended research and exploration to initiate and develop personal ideas. Sketchbooks should be places where children feel they can fail, demonstrate resilience with this and discover something new.   

At Aylesham Primary School children are taught creatively to select and use appropriate tools safely and effectively to design and make products. They become resilient when evaluating their own work as well as the work of others. In all areas of Design and Technology, children consider the effectiveness of their designs, requirements of the product, also having the opportunities to demonstrate teamwork through the production of their work. All children will have the opportunity to deepen their understanding, knowledge, experience and application in the use of technology. Our aim is to teach children how to be designers across the curriculum and enable them to demonstrate these skills in many areas of learning.

Aims and Objectives

-To deliver programmes of study for Key Stages 1 and 2 of the National Curriculum in Design and Technology.

- To develop imaginative thinking in children and enable them to discuss their likes and dislikes of the work of others and when designing themselves.

- To enable children to talk about how things work, to design and model their ideas.

- To encourage children to select and use appropriate tools and techniques safely when making a product.

- To explore and evaluate the work of current designers and develop an understanding of the history of design.

- To develop an understanding of technology, product and their place and contribution to our society.

- To have recognition of purpose in mind when designing and making products.

- To design, produce and evaluate with enjoyment and recognition of a purpose in mind.