Design Technology
Design Technology Curriculum Intent
At St. Gregory’s, we encourage children to use their creativity and imagination, to design and make products that compliment class studies or solve real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts, considering their own and others’ needs, wants and values. Design and Technology is an inspiring, rigorous and practical subject. It can be found in many of the objects children use each day and is a part of children’s immediate experiences. Design and Technology encourages children to learn to think and intervene creatively, to solve problems both as individuals and as members of a team. As a school, we are committed to providing all children with learning opportunities to engage in Design Technology.
At St. Gregory’s, the Design and Technology curriculum combines knowledge, skills, concepts and values to enable children to tackle real problems. We aim to, where possible and meaningful, link work to other disciplines such as mathematics, science, technology, engineering and art. The children are encouraged to become innovators and risk-takers. High-quality design and technology education makes an essential contribution to the creativity, culture, wealth and well-being and future of the individual child and the nation.
At St. Gregory’s Catholic Primary School, our design and technology offers opportunities for children to:
• Nurture creativity and innovation, including communication of ideas and information, through the stages of designing, making and evaluating, using a variety of media.
• Develop ability to identify safety hazards and risks and act to keep themselves and others safe.
• Develop the creative, technical and practical expertise needed to design and create products, possibly including performing 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 uses.
• Review, critique, evaluate and test ideas and products and the work of others.
• Understand and apply the principles of nutrition and learn how to cook basic foods.
• Develop the social skills necessary to work as a member of a team.
• Develop a sense of enjoyment and pride in their ability to create.
• Value own work and those of others through display.
Design Technology Curriculum Implementation
• Specialist support provided by a Design Technology Specialist Teacher, Mrs O’Donnell.
• Ongoing opportunities for exploration in early designing, making and evaluating through targeted Continuous Provision in the Early Years Foundation Stage and when deemed appropriate in Key Stage 1.
• A cycle of lessons for each subject, which carefully plans for progression and depth.
• Sessions which reflect cross-curricular learning or stop-related studies, delivered through schemes or prepared in line with current or developing local and national interest.
• A variation of teacher-directed activities and child-lead activities, allowing self-discovery and free expression.
• Challenge questions for pupils to apply their learning in a philosophical/open manner.
• Trips and visiting experts who will enhance the learning experience.
• A means to display and celebrate the pupils’ DT work in their class.
Design Technology Curriculum Impact
Our Design and Technology curriculum is high quality, well thought out and is planned to demonstrate progression. If children are keeping up with the curriculum, they are deemed to be making good or better progress. In addition, we measure the impact of our curriculum through the following methods:
• A celebration and review of outcomes through reviewing work in sketch books and display.
• A reflection on standards achieved against the planned outcomes.
• A celebration of learning for each unit of design and technology learning, which demonstrates progression across the school.
• Pupil discussions about their learning; which includes discussion of their thoughts, ideas, processing and evaluations of work.
Bringing Design Technology to life at St. Gregory's
