Our school vision promotes aspirations, “… and lifelong possibilities,” and our Design and Technology curriculum seeks to inspire pupils to be inventors, designers and entrepreneurs, providing them with the skills needed to do so.
The Design and Technology curriculum is sequenced in such a way that allows pupils to build upon previous skills and knowledge across their primary career. Pupils will revisit design techniques, each time developing them further to deepen their knowledge and develop their skills.
Right from the start pupils in Nursery begin to explore DT in a number of continuous provision areas in the classroom. These will include; play dough, loose parts, large parts, brick and junk modelling. Children learn how to cut, stick and join materials, exploring and reviewing their designs each time. To find out more about DT in the Early Years please visit here.
In KS1, pupils begin to develop their design skills, learning from prominent designers and will learn how to:
They will work with a range of materials:
- Food ingredients
In KS2, children will develop their skills and learn how their designs can become products that others can use and enjoy. They will develop skills in:
- Design drawing,
- Strengthening materials
- Investigating existing products
- Evaluate their ideas
- Knowledge of mechanical systems
Throughout all of the curriculum studies there is a learning link that weaves its way through all studies. In DT we are focussing on how the developing world and existing products influence the way we innovatively design, make and evaluate a product. This will ensure children can build upon their knowledge over time and make links with their prior learning.
It is important that we maximise the expertise of local industries to support children in their learning and to engage them in the subject. Our studies are selected carefully so that we can local resources such as, the bridges in Durham city, the Locomotion Railway museum, local bakeries and Fire Brigade.
Pupils are able to further their experiences in DT by attending after-school clubs such as STEM club.
Please see our Whole School Long Term Plan to see what our pupils will study during each year here.