The 3 I’s Design Technology

Intent

At Fawbert and Barnard’s Primary school, children receive a design and technology curriculum which allows them to exercise their creativity through designing and making. They will leave our school with the skills they need to pursue careers within science, technology and maths industries regardless of their gender, race, disability or socio-economic background. 

DT is the activity by which children develop their research, problem-solving, teamwork and creative thinking skills. It is a vital part of pupils’ learning at Fawbert and Barnard’s primary school because it equips our children with an extensive range of practical skills that they will need if they choose to follow a career in industries such as construction, engineering, fashion and design. Skills are taught progressively to ensure that all children are able to learn and practise in order to develop as they move through the school. Value is given to practical activities where children can apply their knowledge using a hands on approach in order to achieve specific learning outcomes.

Implementation

The teachers plan based on the National Curriculum objectives for Art and Design, taking into account the children’s prior learning in other areas of the school. On long term plans, teachers outline which units will be taught throughout the academic year and when, making links where possible to other areas of the curriculum in order to make their DT learning as contextualised and meaningful as possible. The next step in the planning process is medium term planning, where teachers plan sequences of lessons and make considerations about differentiation.

All teaching of DT should follow the design, make and evaluate cycle. Each stage should be rooted in technical knowledge. The design process should be rooted in real life, relevant contexts to give meaning to learning. Whilst making, children should be given choice and a range of tools to choose freely from. They should also be encouraged to make mistakes as this is an integral part of design and technology and enables children to keep learning.

To evaluate, children should be able to evaluate their own products against a design criteria. Each of these steps should be rooted in technical knowledge and vocabulary. 

The key skills we teach the children are:

• cooking and nutrition
• mechanisms
• structures
• textiles
• electrical and mechanical systems

Impact

We want the children at Fawbert and Barnard’s primary school to develop their imagination, their critical thinking and their understanding of the world around them through their love of Design and Technology. We aim for our children to question and think innovatively about the world around them in order to design and develop their own products with a purpose in mind.

By the time the children leave this school they will have:

• An excellent attitude to learning and independent working.
• The ability to use time efficiently and work constructively and productively with others.
•  The ability to carry out thorough research, show initiative and ask questions to develop an exceptionally detailed knowledge of users’ needs.
• The ability to act as responsible designers and makers, working ethically, using finite materials carefully and working safely.
•  A thorough knowledge of which tools, equipment and materials to use to make their products.
•  The ability to apply mathematical knowledge and skills accurately.
• The ability to manage risks exceptionally well to manufacture products safely and hygienically.
•  A passion for the subject.