Intent:

Our Design and Technology Curriculum is designed to ignite curiosity and creativity in young minds, fostering a passion for innovation and problem-solving. Our intent is to provide students with a rich and diverse range of practical experiences that encourage them to explore, design, and create solutions to real and relevant problems in various contexts.

Through our curriculum, we aim to empower children to confidently identify problems, critically evaluate existing products, and then take risks to innovate and design solutions. We believe in nurturing a mindset that encourages experimentation and resilience, fostering the development of skills that are essential for their future.

In the design and making process, we emphasize the importance of reflection, evaluation, and improvement. Students are given dedicated time to assess prototypes against design criteria, enabling them to refine their ideas and enhance the quality of their creations.

Implementation:

In the implementation of our Design and Technology Curriculum, we follow the Kapow scheme of learning. The Kapow Primary scheme is a spiral curriculum, with key areas revisited again and again with increasing complexity, allowing pupils to revisit and build on their previous learning. We recognise the importance of reinforcing key vocabulary, ensuring that students can articulate and understand the terminology essential to the design and technology field. Each stage of the design process is underpinned by technical knowledge which encompasses the contextual, historical, and technical understanding required for each strand.

Our Design and Technology lessons are carefully designed to embrace active learning opportunities, immersing children fully in first-hand, practical experiences. This hands-on approach not only enhances skill acquisition but also fosters a deep understanding of the subject matter. By engaging students in real-world problem-solving scenarios and creative projects, we aim to spark their enthusiasm and cultivate a genuine love for Design and Technology.

We are committed to helping children see the relevance and impact of Design and Technology in the rapidly evolving technological world they inhabit. Through the integration of carefully planned cross-curricular links, we create connections between design and technology and other subjects, enriching the learning experience and highlighting the interdisciplinary nature of the field. This approach enables students to appreciate the interconnectedness of knowledge and skills across various domains.

Impact:

The impact of our Design and Technology Curriculum is evident in the development of independent and inquisitive minds, fostering a genuine thirst for learning among our students. We are dedicated to monitoring progress consistently across the school.

Our curriculum is designed to progress seamlessly across key stages, allowing students to embark on a journey of continuous improvement and skill refinement.

To measure the impact of our curriculum, we employ various assessment methods, including key questioning and observation of skills learnt during lessons. Children actively participate in the evaluation process, reflecting on how they can make improvements in the future. This reflective practice empowers students to take ownership of their learning journey and encourages a growth mindset.

Our curriculum leaves a lasting impact on students, equipping them with the skills, knowledge, and mindset necessary for success in design and technology and beyond.