Design & Technology

DT Vision

“You can design and create, and build the most wonderful place in the world. But it takes people to make the dream a reality.”

-Walt Disney

It’s not just about ideas, it’s about making ideas happen.

Intent

Design and Technology education involves two important elements – learning about the designed and made world and how things work, and learning to design and make functional products for particular purposes and users. Through Design and Technology lessons, children will acquire and apply knowledge and understanding of materials and components, mechanisms and control systems, structures, existing products and nutrition.

Design and Technology encourages pupils to learn to think creatively to solve problems, both as individuals and collaboratively. Being resilient is a huge part of Design and Technology. At Brampton ‘The Ellis’ Primary, we encourage pupils to use their creativity and imagination to design and make purposeful products within a variety of contexts, reflecting on their design and evaluating its usefulness and purpose. We aim to, wherever possible, link work to other disciplines through our topic approach.

Implementation

Through a variety of creative and practical activities, we teach the knowledge, understanding and skills needed to engage in the process of designing and making. The children work in a range of relevant contexts.

When designing and making, the children are taught to:

Design

use research and evaluate existing products to inform the design of innovative, functional and appealing products

develop their own design criteria with designs aimed at particular individuals or groups

generate, develop, model and communicate their ideas through discussion, annotated sketches, cross-sectional diagrams, prototypes, pattern pieces and computer-aided design

Make

select from and use a wide range of tools and equipment to perform practical tasks accurately

select from and use a wider range of materials and components, including construction materials, textiles and ingredients, according to their functional properties and aesthetic qualities

Evaluate

investigate and analyse a range of existing products and understand its impact on daily life and the wider world.

evaluate their ideas and products against their own design criteria and consider the views of others to improve and adapt their work

understand how key events and individuals in design and technology have helped shape the world

Technical knowledge

apply their understanding of how to strengthen, stiffen and reinforce more complex structures

explore and use mechanisms and mechanical systems in their products

understand and use electrical systems in their products

apply their understanding of computing to program, monitor and control their products.

Cooking and nutrition

understand and apply the principles of a healthy and varied diet
prepare and cook a variety of predominantly savoury dishes using a range of cooking techniques
understand where food comes from, including seasonality and how a variety of ingredients are grown, reared, caught and processed.

Key skills and knowledge for D and T have been mapped across the school to ensure progression. Children learn about real-life structures and the purpose of specific examples, as well as developing their skills throughout the programme of study.

Impact

We ensure the children

develop the creative, technical and practical expertise needed to perform everyday tasks confidently, and to participate successfully in an increasingly technological world

build and apply a repertoire of knowledge, understanding and skills in order to design and make high-quality prototypes and products for a wide range of users and critique, evaluate and test their ideas and products and the work of others

understand and apply the principles of nutrition and learn how to cook. Children will design and make a range of products. A good quality finish will be expected in all design and activities made appropriate to the age and ability of the child

Children learn how to take risks, becoming resourceful, innovative, enterprising and respectful citizens. Through the evaluation of past and present design and technology, they develop a critical understanding of its impact on daily life and the wider world. High-quality design and technology education makes an essential contribution to the creativity, culture, wealth and well-being of the nation.

Amy Burton – Design and Technology Lead

Progression Map