St Hugh's Catholic Primary School
Design & Technology
Jesus replied, "And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church."
Matthew 16:17-20
Introduction
At St Hugh’s Catholic Primary School, our DT curriculum allows children to have first-hand experiences as they explore the world around them. We want every child to be happy and enthusiastic learners and to be eager to achieve their very best in order to fulfil their God-given talents. At St Hugh’s, we encourage children to use their creativity and imagination, to 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 aim to, wherever possible, link work to other disciplines such as mathematics, science, engineering, computing and art. In order to develop the children’s full potential as designers and makers, we try to ensure that there is continuity, progression, breadth and balance throughout the school in our planning and teaching of Design and Technology.
Intent
Our principal aim is that children leave St. Hugh’s Catholic School with a wide range of happy and rich memories in Design and Technology formed through interesting and exciting experiences driven through vehicles that enhance a child’s awareness of their own abilities and strengths as a learner; thus ensuring that children see learning in Design and Technology as an on-going process not a one-off event. Opportunities will exist for children of all ages to experience learning beyond the classroom, allowing children to develop a deep understanding of the subjects they are studying. They will increasingly use their prior knowledge to solve problems and develop the sophistication of Design and Technology.
Implementation
Carefully designed schemes of learning in Design and Technology ensure consistency and progress of all learners. Teachers use a variety of creative and practical activities, to teach pupils the knowledge, understanding and skills needed to engage in an iterative process of designing and making. Children will generate, develop, model and communicate their ideas through discussion, annotated sketches, cross-sectional and exploded diagrams, prototypes, pattern pieces and computer-aided design. In lessons, pupils are given time to explore and evaluate a range of existing products and evaluate their ideas and products against design criteria including their own design criteria and consider the views of others to improve their work. They are given the opportunity to build structures, exploring how they can be made stronger, stiffer and more stable; and use mechanisms [for example, levers, sliders, wheels and axles], in their products.
Impact
Children of all abilities and backgrounds achieve well in Design and Technology reflected in outstanding progress that reveals a clear learning journey. They will enhance their problem solving skills and use their resilience to ensure that work is amended rather than started again. Their confidence will shine through the presentation of their work in group settings and in an individual setting.
Cultural Capital
It is important to us that those children whose home experiences are more limited and their journey more uneven; are given guidance and opportunities to spark their aspirations and allow them to flourish in the Design and Technology curriculum. Through wider reading in Design and Technology, children will be exposed to a range of design work influenced by different design areas such as; Architecture, Chefs, Fashion Designers, Car Designers and Product Designers. Through this exposure, children will produce work that is influenced by the best of the best.
British Values
Fundamental British Values such as tolerance, respect for everyone, individual liberty and democracy are evident in Design and Technology and help children understand how they can celebrate difference. As children travel through their journey, they become more aware of local and wider differences in the world. They can share their personal experiences and backgrounds, allowing opportunities to explore how different communities are right on their doorstep. Through growth in their knowledge, we succeed in encouraging our pupils to gain strong partnerships within diversity.