Design and Technology

   Design and technology is an inspiring, rigorous and practical subject.              

Intent 

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.

Children have the opportunity to complete one design and technology project per term in order to develop a wide set of practical skills throughout their school career. 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.

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.

At Rode Heath, we aim to provide opportunities for our children to create products for a range of purposes, developing a variety of relevant and adaptable skills and habits that are built upon as they progress through the years (and are life-long*). We want them to be able to apply their own ideas to create real-life solutions to needs within the current world we live in. Through this, the aim is that the children will become progressively competent and confident with communicating their designs, increasingly dexterous with the skills necessary (from cookery to sewing to construction skills etc) and increasingly proficient in evaluating their own projects and those of others.

*Instilling our whole school ethos of Engineering Habits of Mind (EHoM) in our pupils is key to all of the above.

Furthermore, our design and technology curriculum at Rode Heath is inclusive in order for all children to achieve and develop their skills to the best of their ability with no barriers such as gender stereotypes within certain industries.

Implementation

Our design and technology curriculum links closely with other subjects, especially STEM subjects, and computing and art. It is informed by the expertise of real-life industry professionals, through the study of renowned specialists including engineers, designers, architects etc; excursions to relevant industries (local where possible); and visits from engineers, to inspire, consult and advise us. We also have specific whole school enrichment days dedicated to carrying out activities relating to our particular chosen themes within design and technology.

For more detail see our curriculum overview below.

Impact

Pupils will:

*be familiar with the whole design and make process, valuing the importance of each aspect.
*be willing to have a go, recognising that mistakes are part of the process.
*develop and use Engineering Habits of Mind (EHoM) throughout the curriculum.
*develop and refine skills within the disciplines, including inventing, cooking, sewing etc
*build STEM capital

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