St PaulinusCatholic Primary Academy
Inspiring all to live, learn and love in the light of Jesus
Design and Technology
St Paulinus Construction Club
Look at the amazing things going on in DT at St Paulinus
Curriculum Intent:
The Curriculum Plan – what are the aims of our programme of study.
Design and Technology (D&T) prepares pupils to participate in a rapidly changing world. They learn to think and intervene creatively to improve the quality of life. The subject calls for pupils to become autonomous and creative problem solvers both individually and as a member of a team. They identify needs, wants and opportunities and respond to these to develop a range of design ideas for products and systems. In the process they combine practical skills with a growing understanding of aesthetic, social and environmental issues. They have the opportunity to reflect on and learn from present and past technologies. They improve their chances of becoming discriminating and informed uses of products now and in the future.
At St Paulinus we follow the national Curriculum, which clearly identifies the aims for Design Technology as:
- Provide a relevant, challenging and enjoyable curriculum for D&T for all pupils.
- Develop all pupils designing and making skills and increase their technical knowledge and understanding, using a range of tools, equipment and components safely and with increasing competence.
- 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.
- 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.
- Enable pupils to work individually and co-operatively at creative problem-solving and design and make activities.
Curriculum Implementation:
What does DT teaching look like?
Design and Technology is implemented through:
- A well thought out, whole school, yearly overview of the DT curriculum which allows for
progression across year groups in all areas of DT (textiles, mechanisms, structures, food
and electrical systems)
- Well planned and resourced projects providing children with a hands-on and enriching
experience
- A range of skills being taught ensuring that children are aware of health and safety
issues related to the tasks undertaken
- Teachers using ‘Projects on a page to ensure good quality DT teaching and learning is happening
- Each project from Year 1 to Year 6 addressing the principles of designing, making, and
evaluating and incorporating relevant technical knowledge and understanding in
relevant contexts.
- Pupils being introduced to specific designers, chefs, nutritionists, etc. helping to
engender an appreciation of human creativity and achievement and increase the
cultural capital from which they can draw in the future.
Curriculum impact:
What do our outcomes in DT look like? How successful is our DT teaching:
- DT is regularly and consistently being taught.
- Children are learning skills and using them in future projects, year on year progression.
- Good quality products are being designed and made consistently throughout school.
- Children LOVE DT! Look at our pupil voice statements below…
“You get to see how things work and then get to make your own version.”
“You learn new things, I never knew what a cam mechanism was and now I do and I made one and it worked!”
“I never knew what ingredients made a healthy snack bar. I went home and made some more.”
“My axle turned round and my car moved, it was the fastest in the class.”
