Design and Technology

Why you teach it - your purpose of study

At Smallwood, our aim is to improve the life chances of our pupils through the provision of care, positivity and a stimulating environment, in which every individual feel supported to be able to achieve their best. Our definitive core purpose of what Smallwood School stands for and it’s ethos of deliver to our learners aims to develop well- rounded, confident and responsible individuals who aspire to reach their full potential. Our drivers of SHINE and our core values of ready respectful, safe and kind, are important to us all and the way in which we conduct ourselves. These drivers are threaded through our curriculum and opportunities are offered regardless of the child’s starting point.  

We believe that our curriculum is ambitious, coherent, structured and progressive, for all our learners to reach their highest capacity and potential.

INTENT

What you teach - your programme(s) of study

Our intent is to build a DT curriculum which provides an opportunity for all children to learn the skills required to become a successful designer. We encourage children to discover an interest in design technology, by allowing the children to critically engage with design, sculpture and construction.   

We provide a balanced and broad curriculum which promotes the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils. This will prepare them for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences in later life.

We believe our progressive DT curriculum has planned opportunities to create and evaluate a range of products, giving all learners the opportunity to enjoy being creative. Our curriculum enables learners to access a range of materials to understand their properties, to encourage learners to engage with products, considering their purpose and practicality. It also allows children to widen their vocabulary and use of technical language. To apply the skills acquired within Art and DT lessons to cross-curricular topics, allowing children to use their skills to reflect on and explore topics in greater depth; for example, using DT as a medium to express emotion and thought to enhance their personal, social and emotional development. 

IMPLEMENTATION

Smallwood’s curriculum is clearly sequenced, and a progressive form of study based on the requirements of the National Curriculum. Our children are provided a range of materials for them to explore, giving them an opportunity to develop a range of given skills. Smallwood provides high quality teaching, with regular monitoring and assessment (based on key milestones), that is appropriately pitched to the needs of the individual. As we nurture a resilient learning attitude towards product design, this in turn helps our children to focus on evaluation.  DT is an engaging subject, which we aim to be well resourced, where children can enjoy regular lessons that are highly valued and purposeful.

IMPACT

So what - your evaluations of the above

Our aim is to embed a DT Curriculum that is of high quality, well thought out and planned to demonstrate progression. A DT curriculum that allows the children to discover new interests and talents in design, sculpture and construction. Children are encouraged to apply their new-found knowledge to other areas of learning, leading to progression through the key stages. The Children will be encouraged to consider how DT links to the wider world around them, identifying products and designs they appreciate and why. Children will develop a wider range of vocabulary, being able to use and understand technical and topical vocabulary. At Smallwood we aim to ensure that children enjoy their lessons and are confident to ‘have a go’ applying their new skills. Demonstrating their enjoyment when they design, make and evaluate their own product.