Design and Technology Curriculum

St. Mary’s believes that Design and Technology is an inspiring, rigorous and practical subject. Using creativity and imagination, pupils design and make products that solve real and relevant problems, within a variety of contexts. We believe students learn best by ‘doing’ and by allowing them to experiment in a safe and positive learning environment. This is achieved through imaginative teaching that embraces new technologies and modern industrial processes. At the heart of this, is the desire to deliver a curriculum in which pupils produce high quality outcomes. Children will also develop the life skills and knowledge associated with healthy living, food nutrition and cookery. Through the evaluation of past and present design and technology, the children will develop a critical understanding of its impact on daily life and the wider world; gaining an appreciation that it is an on-going cycle of evaluation and re-invention.

At St Mary’s, Design and Technology planning is devised through professional discussion with teaching staff and the Senior Leadership Team (SLT); it meets the requirements of the National Curriculum, which is organised in our school ‘National Curriculum Ladders’.   The teaching of Design and Technology is centred around real world project questions; this enables children to investigate past, current and future designs, aimed at improving the planet.

Design and Technology is taught mainly  during our Explore Projects (Spring Term).  Other opportunities for developing DT skills and knowledge and to support children’s long term memory development are planned into the Discover and Express projects (Autumn and Summer Term, depending on year group).  The focus of our DT studies enables pupils to engage with their Project Question and Project Values.  For example, Year 6 ask: ‘How do communities work together to face adversity?’ and study the values of: ‘ Resilience, Hope, Community, Adversity and Respect’. They explore water stress and use our developing relationship with John Renouard – The Village Drill founder – to learn about how design has real impacts on the world.

Lessons at St Mary’s are planned and organised with progression and challenge as the key drivers.  Medium term plans are developed by Senior Leaders and the Subject Leader to ensure that curriculum coverage, high expectations and genuine ‘real life’ contexts are studied in Design and Technology.   All teachers prepare lessons based on Subject Leader plans and resources, which not only engage and enthuse learners but also offer challenging ‘deeper thinking questions’, in order for learners to progress, link their learning to their project questions and work at greater depth.  During Design and Technology lessons, children will have the opportunity to work independently, with a partner or in mixed ability groups to enable everyone to engage with our DT curriculum.