Design & Technology
Design is not what it looks like, what it feels like, but how it works.
Curriculum Intent
Our Design and Technology curriculum at Buckingham is all about fostering enjoyment, satisfaction and purpose in designing and creating within the children. We believe that every pupil should have the opportunity to design and make high-quality products independently or as part of a team. This approach encourages our pupils to develop into creative problem solvers, becoming more confident individuals.
Through Design and Technology, our pupils gain an understanding of technological processes and products, how they are manufactured, and their contributions to society. They also learn to follow safe procedures when using particular tools and techniques. They can talk about how things work, and they can draw and model their ideas. Through cooking lessons children are taught about the importance of nutrition and how they can apply this knowledge in their everyday lives. Our overall aim is to provide our children with the confidence to perform everyday practical tasks and to participate successfully in an increasingly technological world.
As a school, we ensure a range of skills are taught and then built upon as the children progress through the school. This enables children to build upon prior knowledge and progress in ability and understanding of different techniques. The curriculum promotes practical learning and the research part of each unit gives children a chance to experiment with current products in order to be able to make informed decisions in the design process. An emphasis is placed on Cooking and Nutrition which is taught each year with specific, age appropriate skills.
Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
During their time in the Early Years Foundation Stage, children are encouraged to explore and develop their design and technology skills through a variety of carefully planned activities and opportunities. Through play, children are able to design, make and evaluate products for a purpose. Design and Technology in the Early Years is explored most through Expressive Arts and Design and Understanding the World.
Key Stage One and Two
In Key Stages One and Two, our curriculum is designed to encourage practical learning, and each unit includes a research component that allows children to experiment with current products, empowering them to make informed decisions in the design process. Pupils are encouraged to use a diverse range of materials, resources and ICT tools, with connections made between Design and Technology projects and the area of Study for that term. We encourage students to make purposeful product designs and provide them with the freedom to be creative.
Implementation
Design and Technology is taught through a series of lessons each term. Pupils engage in various whole-class, group or individual activities, with one project to be completed per term. Each unit follows the research, design, make, and evaluate cycle while teaching specific skills and technical knowledge. Pupils critically evaluate existing products, their own work and that of others. Pupils are given the freedom to make choices about their designs and designs have a clear purpose. They have the opportunity to use a wide range of materials, resources, and ICT.
Our school places emphasis on a well-rounded education that provides children with a variety of skills to build upon and enhance as they progress through their Primary Education. This approach enables students to solidify their knowledge and extend their skills and understanding of different techniques.
Children are assessed against the national curriculum throughout the year. This assessment is made based on observations of the children’s skills, completed submissions of learning at the end of a unit and a teacher’s overall judgement of a child’s aptitude. Teacher assessments are recorded each term using assessment grids.