“Design is a funny word. Some people think design means how it looks. But of course, if you look deeper, it’s really how it works.” – Steve Jobs
At Heaton Park Primary School, we believe that Design and Technology prepares our children to look forward and deal with a rapidly changing world. It encourages them to think imaginatively and become problem solvers who can work well independently and with their peers. We use the Kapow Design Technology Scheme of Work, combined with the Kapow Art and Design curriculum.
Intent
The Design and Technology scheme of work at Heaton Park Primary School aims to inspire pupils to be innovative and creative thinkers who have an appreciation for the product design cycle through ideation, creation, and evaluation. We want pupils to develop the confidence to take risks, through drafting design concepts, modelling, and testing and to be reflective learners who evaluate their work and the work of others. Through our scheme of work, we aim to build an awareness of the impact of Design and Technology on our lives and encourage pupils to become resourceful, enterprising citizens who will have the skills to contribute to future design advancements.
Our Design and Technology scheme of work enables pupils to meet the end of key stage attainment targets in the National curriculum and the aims also align with those in the National curriculum. EYFS units provide opportunities for pupils to work towards the Development matters statements and the Early Learning Goals.
Implementation
The Design and Technology National curriculum outline three main stages of the design process: design, make and evaluate. Each stage of the design process is underpinned by technical knowledge which encompasses the contextual, historical, and technical understanding required for each strand. Cooking and nutrition has a separate section, with a focus on specific principles, skills and techniques in food, including health and safety, where food comes from, diet and seasonality.
The National curriculum organises the Design and Technology attainment targets under five subheadings or strands:
- Design
- Make
- Evaluate
- Technical knowledge
- Cooking and nutrition
Our Design and Technology scheme has a clear progression of skills and knowledge within these five strands across each year group.
Pupils 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) and
- Digital world (KS2)
Each of our key areas follows the design process (design, make and evaluate) and has a particular theme and focus from the technical knowledge or cooking and nutrition section of the curriculum. The Kapow Primary scheme is a spiral curriculum, with key areas revisited repeatedly with increasing complexity, allowing pupils to revisit and build on their previous learning.
Lessons incorporate a range of teaching strategies from independent tasks, paired and group work including practical hands-on, computer-based and inventive tasks. This variety means that lessons are engaging and appeal to those with a variety of learning styles. Differentiated guidance is available for every lesson to ensure that lessons can be accessed by all pupils and opportunities to stretch pupils’ learning are available when required. Knowledge organisers for each unit support pupils in building a foundation of factual knowledge by encouraging recall of key facts and vocabulary.
At Heaton Park Primary School we are incredibly lucky to have our own fantastic forest school on site which consists of a treehouse, outdoor workshop, vegetable allotment, a pond and cooking area. Using this holistic approach supports the development of children’s Design and Technology skills; providing an opportunity for child-lead learning through exploration, discovery, creativity and interaction with the natural world.
Impact
The Impact of Design Technology at Heaton Park Primary School is constantly monitored through both formative and summative assessment opportunities. Furthermore, each unit has a unit quiz and knowledge catcher which can be used at the start and/ or end of the unit.
Pupils should leave school equipped with a range of skills to enable them to succeed in their secondary education and be innovative and resourceful members of society.
The expected impact of following the Kapow Primary Design and Technology scheme of work is that children will:
➔ Understand the functional and aesthetic properties of a range of materials and resources.
➔ Understand how to use and combine tools to carry out different processes for shaping, decorating, and manufacturing products.
➔ Build and apply a repertoire of skills, knowledge and understanding to produce high quality, innovative outcomes, including models, prototypes, CAD, and products to fulfil the needs of users, clients, and scenarios.
➔ Understand and apply the principles of healthy eating, diets, and recipes, including key processes, food groups and cooking equipment.
➔ Have an appreciation for key individuals, inventions, and events in history and of today that impact our world.
➔ Recognise where our decisions can impact the wider world in terms of community, social and environmental issues.
➔ Self-evaluate and reflect on learning at various stages and identify areas to improve.
➔ Meet the end of key stage expectations outlined in the National curriculum for Design and Technology.
➔ Meet the end of key stage expectations outlined in the National curriculum for Computing.
D & T Yearly Overview EYFS-Y6 2023-2024
EYFS Long Term Plan Design Technology
Year 1 Design and Technology Long Term Plan
Year 2 Design and Technology Long Term Plan
Year 3 Design and Technology Long Term Plan
Year 4 Design and Technology Long Term Plan
Year 5 Design and Technology Long Term Plan
Year 6 Design and Technology Long Term Plan
Art/ Design and Technology Exhibition
