Introduction

Design and technology gives young people the skills and abilities to engage positively with the designed and made world and to harness the benefits of technology.  They learn how products and systems are designed and manufactured, how to be innovative and to make creative use of a variety of resources including digital technologies, to improve the world around them.

National Curriculum

The National Curriculum 2014 for Design & Technology (D&T) 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.

Our Vision for D&T

At Sedlescombe Church of England Primary School it is our vision that D&T will be an inspiring, rigorous and practical subject that supports children to develop our key learning behaviours and skills for life.

Aspiration

D&T will encourage all children to be aspirational learners by giving them real and relevant problems to solve that will make a difference to others. Children will be encouraged to be aspirational by finding the best design solution to the problem and having a positive impact on the lives of others.

Creativity

D&T will encourage and provide opportunities for children to be creative and imaginative learners designing and making products that solve real and relevant problems, considering their own and others’ needs wants and values.

Curiosity

D&T will encourage children to think about important issues and how design can be used to solve problems. Children will be encouraged to be curious learners developing new skills and knowledge in design, structures, mechanisms, electrical control and a range of materials including food. Children will be encouraged to be curious so that they can find the best ways to solve design problems and meet design briefs.

Courage

Children will learn that mistakes will be made in the design process and improvements will need to be made. Learning that it is OK to make mistakes is integral to learning. D&T will also provide children with opportunities to be risk takers.

Cooperation

In D&T the children will be given opportunities to work as part of a design team, sharing ideas and evaluating which ones will support the team to meet the design brief in the best and most creative way. Cooperation and listening skills will be essential skills for the design team to work effectively.

Independence

In D&T the children will undertake a food technology project once a year and in addition to this they will undertake one additional food project each year. The children will learn cooking skills which is an essential life skill and will support children to be independent. Children will also be taught to select and use appropriate tools safely and effectively to make a product.