Curriculum Intent

Design and Technology is an important subject within the National Curriculum as it states that ‘high-quality design and technology education makes an essential contribution to the creativity, culture, wealth and well-being of the nation.’ Therefore, it is vital that all pupils are given numerous opportunities to use and develop their creativity and imagination when designing and making products that solve real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts.

At St Thomas’s Centre, we strive to provide all of our pupils with an inspiring Design and Technology education which develops children’s skills and knowledge in design, structures, mechanisms, electrical control and a range of materials, including food. It should encourage children’s creativity and encourages them to think about important issues. Design and Technology gives children the opportunity to develop skills, knowledge and understanding of designing and making functional products. We feel it is vital to nurture creativity and innovation through design, and by exploring the designed and made world in which we all live and work.

We follow the National Curriculum for Design and Technology but also enhance and change our offer to meet the needs of our children.

Key Stage 1 overview

When designing and making, Key stage 1 pupils should be taught to:

Design

• design purposeful, functional, appealing products for themselves and other users based on design criteria
• generate, develop, model and communicate their ideas through talking, drawing, templates, mock-ups and, where appropriate, information and communication technology

Make

• select from and use a range of tools and equipment to perform practical tasks [for example, cutting, shaping, joining and finishing]
• select from and use a wide range of materials and components, including construction materials, textiles and ingredients, according to their characteristics

Evaluate

• explore and evaluate a range of existing products
• evaluate their ideas and products against design criteria

Technical knowledge

• build structures, exploring how they can be made stronger, stiffer and more stable
• explore and use mechanisms [for example, levers, sliders, wheels and axles], in their products.

Key Stage 2 overview

When designing and making, Key Stage 2 pupils should be 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 and exploded 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], accurately
• select from and use a wider range of materials and components, including construction materials, textiles and ingredients, according to their functional properties and aesthetic qualities

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 [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] apply their understanding of computing to program, monitor and control their products.