Subjects
Design Technology
Our Intent
At Wickersley Partnership Trust (primary) we aim to ensure our Design Technology curriculum is designed to sequence learning and embed the key skills that are required to develop curious students into competent designers, engineers, architects and chefs.
We believe that Design Technology prepares children for the rapidly changing world that we live in. It encourages children to exercise their creativity and use of imagination through designing, making and evaluating their work. It stimulates them to become practical problem solvers and thinkers, individually and as part of a team. As we live in a technological world, Design Technology should have a real-life purpose and children should be inspired by engineers, designers, architects and chefs.
It is vital that curriculum knowledge and skills are not learnt in isolation. We teach Design Technology through the progression of skills and knowledge, both of which are planned in a sequential document and include in this, key lines of inquiry to develop links across the curriculum as well as to the bigger concepts that drive our curriculum intent, such as democracy and equality.
How we intend to remove barriers
In Design Technology we remove barriers to learning and support students’ ability to access the curriculum through the development of literacy, numeracy, oracy skills and vocabulary acquisition.
Misconceptions do not go unchallenged and the supportive environment within each and every lesson ensures that students develop their own literacy and vocabulary.
Literacy
Students are given many opportunities to read widely and often with students directed to texts related to Design Technology, as well as researching independently. Pupils take part in learning opportunities with a range of contexts for reading and writing. These will develop from being supported to independent.
Numeracy
Throughout each year of the curriculum data handling skills are sequenced to become more complex over time. This ensures students build on the fundamental aspects of each one and develop their confidence and understanding.
Oracy
In order to develop their oracy within a subject specific context pupils are given opportunities to talk about their learning. Staff challenge use of technological design related language and will direct pupils towards the correct terminology when appropriate.
Vocabulary
Students are introduced to key subject specific vocabulary and have regular opportunities to reinforce their understanding. Key Design Technology vocabulary is highlighted to the pupils and pupils are guided to use this in their work.
How we develop skills for learning
Students are given opportunities to develop their skills for learning in each and every lesson. Engaging starter activities help students to recall the key concepts of prior learning. Our aspiring designers are presented with a variety of experiences and learning opportunities. They are challenged to think critically and form opinions.
The skills for learning process within the Design Technology curriculum both reinforces the key design skills content and helps our students to know, remember and be able to do more at each stage of the curriculum.
Teacher assessment informs planning and progression within the curriculum.
How we foster personal attributes
In Design Technology our curriculum intent embodies that of the school. We are committed to ensuring students are exposed to the wider world context in order to develop them as well rounded individuals. Our curriculum demands independence, resilience and responsibility in line with the WPT ‘School Ways’.
Design and technology is an inspiring, rigorous and practical subject. It allows children to use their 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. Pupils 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.
How we intend to enrich student experiences and broaden the horizons of students
Design and Technology is a curriculum that is rooted in the wider world of work. To this end we broaden the horizons of all our students and enrich their learning through a range of first hand experiences. All our students have exposure to learning beyond the traditional mainstream lesson and have opportunities to enrich their experiences. As a trust, we have developed links with the Advanced Manufacturing Park in order to enable pupils to see a real world context for the subject. Pupils are encouraged to look for opportunities to further their education in the areas of employment related to Design and Technology. In the trust we offer KS5 Design and Technology options, that allow pupils to be further educated in the subject. We also offer pupils the chance to apply for many different world class apprenticeship routes through the Engineering hubs we have close to the trust here in South Yorkshire.
