Design and Technology
The National Curriculum for Design Technology states, “Design and technology is an inspiring, rigorous and practical subject. Using creativity and imagination, pupils design and make products that solve real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts, considering their own and others’ needs, wants and values. They acquire a broad range of subject knowledge and draw on disciplines such as mathematics, science, engineering, computing and art. Pupils learn how to take risks, becoming resourceful, innovative, enterprising and capable citizens. Through the evaluation of past and present design and technology, they develop a critical understanding of its impact on daily life and the wider world. High-quality design and technology education makes an essential contribution to the creativity, culture, wealth and well-being of the nation.”
Our school uses an online scheme of work for Design and Technology. This provides our teachers with accurate guides and Design and Technology subject knowledge and allows all the adults working in those lessons to feel confident and supported with the skills and knowledge that they are teaching.
The scheme provides a broad range of practical experiences to create innovative designs, which solve real and relevant problems within a variety of different contexts. The repetitive design process is fundamental and runs throughout the units. This process encourages children to identify real and relevant problems, critically evaluate existing products and then take risks and innovate when designing and creating solutions to the problems. Time is built in to reflect, evaluate and improve on prototypes using design criteria throughout to support this process. There are opportunities for children to evaluate key events and individuals who have helped shape the world, showing the real impact of Design and Technology on the wider environment and helping to inspire children to become the next generation of innovators.
Through the repetitive teaching of textiles, structures, mechanical and electrical systems, food/nutrition and the revisiting and consolidating of skills, children build on their prior knowledge. Introducing new skills, knowledge and vocabulary helps to build a depth to children's understanding.
Should it become necessary for you to continue your learning at home, perhaps because you are isolating, we will make sure that you have access to appropriate learning materials as far as we are reasonably able to do so. These will be available in your year group home learning area.
At Irlam Primary Design and Technology brings the children’s learning to life. It provides a motivating context for discovering English, Maths, Science, Art, Geography, History, PSHE and ICT. Through Design and Technology, we inspire a love of Design and Technology and enable our children to see how it has helped shaped the ever-evolving technological world they live in.
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.