Design and Technology (D&T)

INTENT:      The vision for Design and Technology at Lakeside 

At Lakeside Primary Academy School we intend to build a Design Technology curriculum which develops learning and results in the acquisition of knowledge and skills. Children will know more, remember more and understand more.   We intend to design a Design and Technology curriculum which provides children with a real life context for learning. We want to allow children to aspire to be more through creating opportunities for them in the wider world. Through the DT curriculum, children should be inspired by engineers, designers, chefs and architects to enable them to create a range of structures, mechanisms, textiles, electrical systems and food products with a real life purpose.

Design and Technology is an inspiring, rigorous and practical subject. It encourages children to learn to think and intervene creatively to solve problems both as individuals and as members of a team. At Lakeside, 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. 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.

Curriculum Design, Coverage & Progression 

The DT overview details how the national curriculum objectives are mapped out and integrated into topics in each key stage, to show full coverage and progression of skills.  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 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).

The key vocabulary to be taught is added to the overview to show clear progression of technical terms. Educational visits and ‘Wow’ events are incorporated into the curriculum to engage and enhance the learning experiences, such as a STEM week and virtual visits from career driven individuals that work in the construction industry.  The DT curriculum encompasses all the elements our whole school approach to developing PROUD learners with lifelong skills; Pride in learning, taking ownership of what we would like to find our about the world around us and how we can be independent learners to fulfil this.  Use our Reading skills to research, Oracy to talk confidently about our DT learning and pose questions.  

IMPLEMENTATION          

When designing and making, the 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, 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.

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
• Understand some of the ways that food can be processed and the effect of different cooking practices (including baking and grilling).

Slides are shared through each stage of the process to show the specific areas of Design, make and evaluate.

The Design and Technology lead will carry out pupil voice alongside a book look for pupils to share their learning and share about their DT knowledge.  Staff voice is used to identify effective resources, subject knowledge, support CPD needed and what is working well.

DT is celebrated through central displays and working walls within the classroom based around the current topic.

For the Synopsis of D&T at Lakeside and the D&T Curriculum Coverage and Progression document, see below:

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