Our Design & Technology curriculum …

‘The world is in constant change; thus, though a critical STEAM in education, students can learn how to adapt to new and different situations. We are preparing students for jobs and environments that might not exist right now.’ (Marilupe Hren Maths teacher Dulles HS, FBISD)

Design & Technology (D&T)

At St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, we believe that design 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 making products and systems.

At St. Mary’s we use the ‘KAPOW’ Design and Technology scheme of work. This is a progressive scheme of work covering Year 1 to Year 6. The comprehensive D&T scheme meets the standard aligned with the national curriculum (2014). The resources provided enhance teacher skills and CPD with in-depth demos. It enables us to elevate pupil engagement with quality lessons. Whilst receiving full support with all the resources we need.

Our Curriculum  

Design and Technology is taught every other half term.

• In EYFS the children will cover Structures and Mechanisms. As well as this children are provided with a plethora of activities from continuous provision and often follow the children’s interests
• In KS1 the children will cover Structures, Textiles and Mechanisms
• In KS2 the children will cover Structures, Mechanical systems, Electrical systems and Digital World.
• All Year groups cover ‘Cooking and Nutrition’.
• To align with the national curriculum, the scheme identifies four key strands which run throughout our scheme of work. These are design, make, evaluate and technical knowledge

• Excellent resources for non – Design and Technology specialists, with easy to follow lesson plans/videos/SOW, progression of key skills.
• Adaptive methods catering for all abilities.
• Inclusive resources.
• Consistency across whole school Design and Technology – Progressive lessons,  key knowledge and vocabulary, linking learning, Q & A and Plenaries
• Assessment: The Use of Insight Tracking to identify those children who are working at the expected, below and above age-related expectations.  
• Design and Technology iPads use for AFL, analysis of performance of product and evidence progress.
• Well planned progressive curriculum map
• Fully inclusive curriculum

SEND

At St. Mary’s we believe that Design and Technology is a popular and valuable subject for pupils with special educational needs. Knowledge and understanding is drawn from across the curriculum and helps to develop and enable numeracy, literacy and communication skills that can be applied in practical ways. This consolidates skills and knowledge from other lessons and reinforces learning with positive outcomes.

At St Mary’s we have planned a broad spectrum of the D&T curriculum and delivered it in order to accommodate and challenge pupils of all abilities through adaptive teaching. We understand that at times it may be necessary to provide specialist equipment, adapt room layouts, utilise adult helpers and allow additional time for tasks.

The pillars of Design & Technology

Substantive knowledge in design and technology is based on the knowledge of four key elements of the process of design (design, make, evaluate and technical knowledge). All of these elements will be taught and key vocabulary is taught explicitly and will be deliberately practised and applied through the 4 key elements.

Disciplinary knowledge in design and technology is the process of enabling children to use their substantive knowledge of products and materials around them to make links between and across different areas of the curriculum. Knowledge in design and technology will equip the children with the opportunity to explain how and why products have changed over time and how they might be further improved in the future. They can use their knowledge and understanding to suggest how existing products may be improved with the advances in modern technology. Children will demonstrate that they have the cultural capital to become global citizens, following global themes and fundamental British Values, in an ever changing and technologically advancing world.

A progressive curriculum

Our Design and Technology curriculum is progressive. As the curriculum is taught children return to the same substantive and disciplinary knowledge, increasing in depth each time a pillar is revisited. It is covered with greater complexity in cooking and nutrition, mechanisms and mechanical systems, structures and textiles. Upon revisiting each pillar, prior knowledge is utilised so pupils can build on previous learning, rather than starting again. Electrical systems and Digital world are taught in KS2 only to link in with electrical systems in science.