D&T

Intent

At St. John Fisher Catholic Primary School, our Design and Technology curriculum intends to be inspiring, practical, meaningful, and memorable. We endeavour for pupils to use their creativity and imagination to design, make and evaluate products within a variety of contexts. We intend for all pupils to acquire appropriate subject knowledge, skills and understanding as set out in the National Curriculum. We endeavour to make strong cross-curricular links with other subjects, such as Mathematics, Science, Computing and Art.

The National Curriculum (2014) states ‘High- quality design and technology education makes an essential contribution to the creativity, culture, wealth and well-being of the nation’. Our design technology curriculum aims to nurture the talent of tomorrow, and provide the opportunities, understanding and experiences for all children to realise their God given potential, to be innovators of the future and to be successful in later life.

Implementation

Our Design and Technology Working Party Group, in collaboration with DT expertise from external providers have designed a practical, progressive, ambitious curriculum based around the National Curriculum for Design and Technology which encompasses:

  • Well planned, progressive teaching sequences with links to prior learning
  • Ambitious projects and a supporting programme of CPD for staff
  • Lessons taught as discrete projects with learning evidenced in DT project books
  • Assessment records for each DT project
  • Taught in a clear sequence of ‘Explore – Design – Make – Evaluate’
  • Five main technical skills are covered: Textiles, Structures, Mechanisms, Electrical and Cooking and nutrition
  • Key vocabulary is taught explicitly and referred to throughout the sequence
  • Pupils access and learn to use a wide range of materials and tools
  • Pupils are encouraged to be critical of their own work, and taught about the importance of evaluating their work against design criteria
  • Meaningful links with Coventry’s rich history of designers, makers and manufacturers which continues today with visits to our heritage sites and museums

Impact

As result of our D&T curriculum, pupils at St. John Fisher Catholic Primary School will develop an appreciation of the design process and how certain products have shaped the world we live in. They will have a solid understanding of technical knowledge that will allow them to become

more competent in these practical skills throughout school. They will be able to evaluate their work, deciding how fit for purpose it is and whether any improvements can be made. Through carefully planned and implemented learning opportunities, pupils will develop the creative, technical, and practical expertise needed to perform everyday tasks confidently and participate successfully in an increasingly technological world.