Design and Technology
The aims of design and technology education at St Gabriel's Catholic Primary School are to:
- To ensure all pupils have equal opportunities to take part in design and technology activities across each phase. • To encourage children to design imaginatively, plan, make and evaluate their own work.
- To provide children with the opportunity to develop and build on their skills as they move through the year groups.
- To teach children to critically evaluate their own and others’ final product using constructive criticism.
- To encourage children to understand and apply the principles of nutrition and healthy eating and to learn how to cook.
- To communicate to children the importance of health and hygiene.
- To teach children how to use a range of equipment, select appropriate tools and techniques, whilst following all safety procedures.
- To use a range of teaching techniques to allow children to work individually, in pairs and as a larger group.
Intent
We want all children at St Gabriel’s Primary School to think innovatively, to question and explore the practical world around them and to develop a positive and passionate approach to their learning, through creative design.
Design and Technology prepares children to take part in the development of tomorrow’s rapidly changing world. Creative thinking encourages children to make positive changes to their quality of life. The subject encourages children to become autonomous and creative problem-solvers, both as individuals and as part of a team. It enables them to identify needs and opportunities and to respond by developing ideas and eventually making products and systems. Through the study of design and technology they combine practical skills with an understanding of aesthetic, social and environmental issues, as well as functions and industrial practices. This allows them to reflect on and evaluate present and past Design and Technology, its uses and its impacts. Design and Technology helps all children to become discriminating and informed consumers and potential innovators.
Implementation
Teachers at St Gabriel’s use the Kapow Design and Technology scheme to ensure all attainment targets outlined in the National Curriculum are met. Teacher’s may also supplement or adapt Kapow activities to form other cross curricular links.
Pupil’s respond to design briefs, and scenarios that require consideration of the needs of others, developing their skills in six key areas:
- Mechanisms
- Structures
- Textiles
- Cooking and nutrition (food)
- Electrical systems (ks2)
- Digital World (ks2)
The progression of skills document outlines the skills taught within each year group and how these skills develop to ensure that attainment targets are securely met by the end of each key stage.
Impact
At St Gabriel’s we ensure the children will:
- 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 and 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. Children will design and make a range of products. A good quality finish will be expected in all design and activities made appropriate to the age and ability of the child
Children 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.
