Design and Technology 

Intent

At Woodlands we have designed a Design and Technology curriculum that gives children the knowledge and skills they need for secondary school and beyond. Central to this we aim for pupils to use their creativity and imagination to design and make products that solve real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts. It also includes the technical knowledge and expertise needed to participate in an increasing technological world. The scheme matched the content and ambition of the National Curriculum drawing on disciplines such as Math, Science and Art. 

The curriculum is sequenced so that the new knowledge and skills build on what has been taught before and enables pupils to reach those clearly defined end points. The curriculum has been adapted to provide opportunities to develop vocabulary and a critical understanding of the design, make and evaluate process. In addition to the designing and making elements all children including vulnerable pupils and those with SEND are taught the value of cooking and healthy eating; crucial skills for later life.

Implementation

All teaching of DT follows the design, make and evaluate cycle. Each stage is rooted in technical knowledge. The design process is rooted in real life, relevant contexts to give meaning to learning. While making, children are given choice and a range of tools to choose freely from. To evaluate, children are able to evaluate their own products against a design criteria. Each of these steps are rooted in technical knowledge and vocabulary. Food and Nutrition is a key aspect of DT and is taught every year. Children are taught to evaluate existing foods, appreciate multicultural foods and develop their own ideas against a criteria whilst upholding strict health and safety procedures. DT is taught to a high standard, where each of the stages should be given equal weight. There will be evidence in each of these stages in the DT floor books, which will also develop to show clear progression across the key stages as they are passed up through each year group.

Impact

Assessment of children's learning in Design Technology is an ongoing monitoring of children's understanding, knowledge and skills by the class teacher, throughout lessons. This assessment is then used to inform differentiation, support and challenge required by the children. Summative assessment is conducted termly by class teachers across each year group of the school to inform the subject leader of progress or skills and knowledge still to be embedded. Design Technology is also monitored by the subject leader throughout the year in the form of book monitoring, looking at outcomes and pupil interviews to discuss their learning and understanding and establish the impact of the teaching taking place.