Design & Technology
Curriculum Intent
Our design and technology curriculum aims to inspire pupils to be innovative and creative thinkers who have an appreciation for the product design cycle through design, creation, and evaluation. We want pupils to develop the confidence to take risks, through drafting design concepts, modelling, and testing and to be reflective learners who evaluate their work and the work of others. We aim to build an awareness of the impact of design and technology on our lives and encourage pupils to become resourceful, enterprising citizens who will have the skills to contribute to future design advancements.
The national curriculum for design and technology aims to ensure that all pupils:
- 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
- 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
Curriculum Implementation
At St Joseph’s, design and technology is taught as a part of our Blocked Curriculum to ensure children can design, create, and evaluate quality pieces of work they can be proud of. We follow the National Curriculum and the key knowledge and skills that children acquire and develop throughout each block have been mapped to ensure progression from EYFS to Year 6.
In KS1 pupils will be taught how to design, make, and evaluate, but also to gain specific technical knowledge such as exploring how buildings can be made stronger and using mechanisms. In KS2 pupils will also design, make and evaluate products, but their technical knowledge will develop and build on existing skills to strengthen and reinforce more complex structures, use mechanical systems in their products, understand and use electrical systems in their products and apply their understanding of computing to program, monitor and control their products. Cooking and nutrition will be taught from EYFS which will cover the principles of a healthy, varied diet, where our food comes from and understanding seasonality of food produce.
Curriculum Impact
Pupils are assessed against the National Curriculum objectives. Children are assessed throughout the block and teaching is adapted accordingly to ensure progression. At St Joseph’s we aim to build an awareness of the impact of design and technology on our lives and encourage pupils to become resourceful, enterprising citizens who will have the skills to contribute to future design advancements.
