Design Technology

Vision

At Brierley Hill Primary we believe that Design and Technology is an inspiring, rigorous and practical subject.  With our creativity and imagination, pupils design and make products that solve real and relevant problems, within a variety of contexts, considering their own and others’ needs, wants and values.

Through a process of research, planning, making and evaluating, children apply their learning to solving a meaningful real-world task.

Cooking and nutrition projects teach children how to prepare a range of healthy foods, as well as learning where food comes from and when it grows, we believe this is a vital part of the curriculum and cooking is a really important life skill to develop!

Detailed below is an overview of what your child will learn in Art through each Key Stage.

EYFS

Children will be taught to safely use and explore a variety of materials, tools and techniques, experimenting with colour, design, texture, form and function. Children will also use what they have learnt about media and materials in original ways, thinking about uses and purposes. They will represent their own ideas, thoughts and feelings through design and technology.

Key Stage 1

In Key stage 1 children will have the opportunity to take part in creative and practical activities. Pupils will be taught the knowledge, understanding and skills needed to engage in an iterative process of designing and making. They will work in a range of relevant contexts.

When designing and making, pupils will be taught to:

Design purposeful, functional, appealing products for themselves and other users based on design criteria. They will have the chance to generate, develop, model and communicate their ideas through talking, drawing, templates, mock-ups and, where appropriate, information and communication technology

Pupils will select from and use a range of tools and equipment to perform practical tasks [for example, cutting, shaping, joining and finishing] They will be provided with opportunity to select from and use a wide range of materials and components, including construction materials, textiles and ingredients, according to their characteristics.

Children will explore and evaluate a range of existing products. They will evaluate their ideas and products against design criteria.

Children will be given the opportunity to build structures, exploring how they can be made stronger, stiffer and more stable. They will explore and use mechanisms [for example, levers, sliders, wheels and axles], in their products.

Key Stage 2

In Key stage 2 children will be taught the knowledge, understanding and skills needed to engage in an iterative process of designing and making. They will work in a range of relevant contexts.

When designing and making, pupils should be taught to:

Use research and develop design criteria to inform the design of innovative, functional, appealing products that are fit for purpose, aimed at particular individuals or groups. They will generate, develop, model and communicate their ideas through discussion, annotated sketches, cross-sectional and exploded diagrams, prototypes, pattern pieces and computer-aided design.

Children will be given the opportunity to select from and use a wider range of tools and equipment to perform practical tasks, accurately. They will 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.

Our pupils will investigate and analyse a range of existing product. They will evaluate their ideas and products against their own design criteria and consider the views of others to improve their work. They should understand how key events and individuals in design and technology have helped shape the world Technical knowledge.

Children will then apply their understanding of how to strengthen, stiffen and reinforce more complex structures. Pupils will understand and use mechanical systems in their products. They will have the opportunity to understand and use electrical systems in their products and apply their understanding of computing to program, monitor and control their products.

Cooking and nutrition

As part of their work with food, pupils should be taught how to cook and apply the principles of nutrition and healthy eating. Instilling a love of cooking in pupils will also open a door to one of the great expressions of human creativity. Learning how to cook is a crucial life skill that enables pupils to feed themselves and others affordably and well, now and in later life.

Progression will be assessed through evaluation of your child’s final piece or end of unit project and consideration of their responses and contributions to class discussions.