Design Technology

Design Technology Curriculum Information 

Intention

At St John Bosco RC Primary School, we are dedicated to providing our pupils with a comprehensive and adaptable Design Technology curriculum from Nursery to Year 6.  We intend for our children to have a wide experience of Design Technology enabling them to use the skills they have learnt to represent their work in other curriculum subjects.  Our Design Technology curriculum sets out significant artists for each unit of work, our intention here is that our children are able to have a wider experience, appreciation of knowledge of the art world and its history.  Where possible the ethnic diversity of our school is reflected in the artists chosen. Our Design Technology curriculum units each have a vocabulary element to them; this includes the technical language required and also tier 2 vocabulary which they can understand and use across the curriculum.

At St John Bosco RC Primary School, we consider mental wellbeing to be paramount to the academic success of pupils.  Via Design Technology (and other areas of the curriculum) we intend to foster warm and supportive communication that will enable every child to thrive.  We intend that our pupils will be able to work with confidence across the different areas of the Design Technology.  Some may discover talent; others will gain knowledge as well as skills.  

In Practice

In EYFS, there are two related parts of the curriculum, physical development and expressive arts and design.  Children are able to access art and craft materials every day through continuous provision both inside and via our outdoor learning area.  This is also the case for construction with large and small parts.

From EYFS to Year 6, we follow a bespoke Design Technology curriculum based upon the progression documents provided by Emmaus. The curriculum is carefully structured into blocks that cover particular strands, including:

• Mechanisms

• Structures

• Food and Nutrition

• Textiles

• Understanding Materials (Years 1 & 2)

• Systems (Years 3–6)

Vertical progression within each strand has been deliberately built into the curriculum, enabling pupils to revisit and deepen their knowledge and skills throughout their Primary journey with increasing challenge and complexity.

Our Design Technology curriculum is also linked to the Catholic Social Teaching principles, ensuring that pupils develop not only technical knowledge and creative skills, but also an understanding of how design and innovation can contribute to the common good. For each block, the final project is based upon addressing one of these principles, giving pupils the opportunity to apply their learning in purposeful and meaningful ways.

Design Technology is taught discretely as a subject but the timing of the lesson is at the discretion of the teacher, taking into account the requirements of each piece of work.  For example rather than a weekly DT lesson for half a term, a teacher may teach to do 3 afternoons of DT consecutively. 

Teachers organise trips to museums and art galleries where possible and we have visiting professionals to run workshops.  Our afterschool Art Club also has some DT activities, is free of charge and is well attended.

Cross-Curricular Links: We aim to integrate Design Technology into other subjects.  Skills from Design Technology can enhance Science, History and Geography through accurate labelled diagrams.

Homework:

No homework is set for Design Technology, but parental involvement in our annual art and craft challenges is encouraged.  EG World book Day Boxes, Easter Gardens, Pumpkins.

How Parents Can Help

Let children do things by themselves (but with appropriate supervision and support) at home. Design Technology is about providing opportunities for children to develop their confidence and ability in a range of different ways.

Ideas:

Junk modelling

Building / construction sets eg Meccano, stickle bricks, Lego

Planning a meal / menu

Preparing and presenting food (with support)

Repurposing fabrics / making clothes or costumes

By combining their design and making skills with knowledge and understanding, they learn to create a product fit for purpose. DT brings learning to life. DT is often one of a child’s favourite subjects as they like making decisions for themselves and working practically. They love creating products that they can see, touch – and even taste – for themselves.

There is no right or wrong, only success in finding solutions to a problem.

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