Thorp Primary School

Design & Technology

Intent 

At Thorp, we value Design and Technology as an important part of the children’s entitlement to a broad and balanced curriculum. We believe that, through high quality and well-planned Design and Technology lessons, the children are inspired to develop creative, technical and practical skills in order to prepare them for our ever-changing world. The Design and Technology curriculum at Thorp aims to enable all children to develop the creative, technical and practical expertise needed to perform everyday tasks confidently. Children will be able to develop the skills and knowledge for a critical understanding of the impact of Design and Technology on daily life. 

We aim for all pupils to:

  • Develop the creative, technical and practical expertise needed to perform everyday tasks confidently and to participate successfully in an increasingly technological world
  • Know that the design process of brief – research – planning – making and evaluating is essential in any project
  • Build and apply a wide range of knowledge and skills in order to design and make prototypes and products 
  • Evaluate and test their ideas and products and the work of others
  • Understand and apply the principles of nutrition and learn how to cook simple dishes.

Implementation  

Design and Technology is taught as a main key focus, at least once a term in each class. We implement a curriculum that is progressive throughout the school, with a focus on knowledge and skills taken from the National Curriculum, which ensures that coverage of the National Curriculum is complete. 

This is implemented through:

  • A well thought out, whole school scheme of learning, linked to either Geography, History or Science when appropriate.
  • 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
  • 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. 

We seek to inspire in children a curiosity through local links, including the work of the cotton mills in Oldham to inspire the children’s work with textiles and a focus on fair trade in food, where children explore locally sourced food compared to imported and exotic food which may leave a larger carbon footprint, encouraging children to think about our environment and reflect on their ingredient choices.  

In Early Years (EYFS), Design and Technology is taught through Knowledge and Understanding of the World. Children are given the opportunity to explore, design and evaluate their work and other pupils’ work. During their learning journey the children will develop their knowledge of food, mechanisms, structures and textiles. 

Impact 

Our Design and Technology curriculum has been carefully planned to provide a seamless progression through school. We measure the impact of the curriculum through the following methods:

  • Looking at pupils’ work, especially over time as they gain the knowledge and skills
  • Observing how they perform in lessons
  • Talking to them about what they know

The Design and Technology curriculum will contribute to children’s personal development in creativity, independence, judgment and self-reflection. This will be seen in them being able to talk confidently about their work, and sharing their work with others. Progress will be shown through outcomes.

Curriculum Road Map

 

Knowledge Mats

Year 1 

 

Year 2

 

Year 3

 

Year 4

 

Year 5

 

Year 6

 

 

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