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Design & Technology

At Hemington Primary School, we recognise that high-quality design and technology education makes an essential contribution to the creativity, culture, wealth, and well-being of the nation. This drives us to focus on ensuring that DT is an inspiring and practical subject which provides all children with the opportunity to develop skills, knowledge and understanding of designing and making functional products (including nutrition).

Hemington’s DT curriculum is one that aims to allow children to become self-motivated and confident learners, who can work independently and as part of a team. We intend for our pupils to become problem solvers who are not afraid of making mistakes and the main aim is to ensure that learners develop technical and practical competencies as well as an understanding that design and technology enhances our lives.

The curriculum enables children to develop a knowledge and understanding of simple product design. Children will learn how to take a problem, plan a product based solution, design the product, build the product and evaluate it against the original brief.

Implementation

DT is taught through our curriculum topics and links in with a range of topics. Children are taught to think like designers by following a product design process for each DT unit of work and work by themselves or collaboratively to solve problems, they feel comfortable taking risks in a safe and supportive environment.

Pupils evaluate existing products and use their own creativity and imagination to design and make products which solve problems and are formally taught the age appropriate knowledge and practical skills, enabling them to design and construct high quality products. Teachers create an environment which fosters confidence, encouraging children to evaluate their own work and the work of others, using well- chosen subject vocabulary. They test work and critically evaluate it; this leads to product development and improvement.  

Safety is explained and modelled at the start of all projects, this includes food hygiene instructions where relevant

Pupils are taught the importance of good nutrition and healthy- eating, they develop the life skills which will allow them to feed themselves and others, now and in later life. Pupils are given the resources they need to take designs in their own direction wherever possible and appropriate.

Impact

Children will have clear enjoyment and confidence in Design and Technology that they will then apply to other areas of the curriculum. Through carefully planned and implemented learning activities the pupils develop the creative, technical, and practical expertise needed to perform everyday tasks confidently and to participate successfully in an increasingly technological world. They gain a firm foundation of knowledge and skills to see them equipped to take on further learning into secondary education.

General

Design and technology booklets – whole process from brief, initial idea, final design through to evaluation

Classroom displays celebrating design and technology work/projects

Schemes of Work

Range of projects including mechanisms, structures, electrical, cooking and nutrition and textiles

 Experiences

 Practical/hands on learning

Use of tools – health and safety