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Key Information

Curriculum

Design and Technology

DT Plan

Intent

At St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School we want every child to be happy and enthusiastic learners of Design and Technology, and to be eager to achieve their very best in order to fulfil their God-given talents. We aim to provide a Design Technology curriculum that pupils from Nursery to year 6 not only enjoy but using 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.

We strive to use our high-quality curriculum to ensure the children acquire a broad range of subject and technical knowledge and draw on disciplines such as mathematics, science, engineering, computing and art when designing, making and evaluating their creations. We want our children to learn how to take risks, becoming resourceful, innovative, enterprising and capable 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.

Our aim is to build a Design Technology curriculum which develops learning and results in the acquisition of knowledge and skills. Children will know more, remember more and understand more. We believe that design and technology helps to prepare children for the developing world and encourages them to become curious and creative problem-solvers, both as individuals and as part of a team.

Design and Technology fosters an entrepreneurial spirit offering pupils practical knowledge and skills that can be applied in real life contexts throughout their school life and beyond.

Implementation

To ensure high standards of teaching and learning in Design Technology, we implement a curriculum that is progressive throughout the whole school. Design Technology is taught in key stage 1 and 2 as part of a half-termly topic, focusing on knowledge and skills stated in the National Curriculum. In EYFS links to topics and provision areas promote Design Technology exploration in both Nursery and Reception.

In Key Stage 1 and 2 the Design Technology curriculum at St Joseph’s is based upon the 2014 Primary National Curriculum in England, which provides a broad framework and outlines the knowledge and skills and taught in each Key Stage. Teachers plan their Design Technology lessons with reference to the school’s Progression of Knowledge and Skills document. This document ensures the curriculum is covered in a comprehensive way and that the skills and knowledge that are taught are progressive from one phase to the next.
When teaching Design Technology, teachers also consider the children’s interests to ensure their learning is engaging, broad and balanced. We build upon the learning and skill development of the previous years. As the children’s knowledge and understanding increases, and they become more proficient in selecting and using equipment and materials, they become increasingly confident in their growing ability to design and make products of a good quality. New skills are introduced through direct teaching. Teachers also demonstrate how to use equipment safely.

At St Joseph’s we provide a variety of opportunities for Design Technology enhancements to the Curriculum. Enterprise week encourages the children to design and make products which can then be sold during our enterprise fair in school. This week also offers an opportunity for parents to engage with the school and join in with their children’s learning. We also have visitors who engage with school to support Design Technology learning such as visits from ‘Warburtons’ to support the children in making bread.

Impact

Children will have clear enjoyment and confidence in design and technology that they will then apply to other areas of the curriculum. Children will ultimately know more, remember more and understand more about Design Technology, demonstrating this knowledge when using tools or skills in other areas of the curriculum and in opportunities out of school. The large majority of children will achieve age related expectations in Design Technology. As designers children will develop skills and attributes they can use beyond school and into adulthood.

 

Enterprise Sale- This took place on Friday 18th November 2022

Every year all year groups from UF to Year 6 take part in our St. Joseph’s Enterprise Challenge Week. The Enterprise week helps our children to develop their Design Technology knowledge and skills through planning, designing and evaluating a product to sell at the fair. Each year group were given a budget of £20 to design and make a product to sell at our Enterprise Fair and the aim was to make as much profit as they could. There’s a reward for the winning class who makes the most profit.

All classes worked very hard designing company logos and posters, carrying out market research, costing, advertising, designing and making resulting in wonderful products to sell at the fair. All monies will be going towards purchasing curriculum resources. All products were made by the children (with some adult support where needed).

Parents/Carers were invited into school where they had the opportunity to purchase the products and help raise money for curriculum resources…….