Design & Technology

Our Intent

Southwark pupils will be inquisitive problem solvers who can adapt and apply their prior knowledge in an ever-changing world. This knowledge will equip children with the information needed to make purposeful products in an unpredictable, increasingly technology-dominated world. Children will follow a process of ‘Design’, ‘Make’ and ‘Evaluate’ to produce products that meet a given criteria. Children will create unique products by applying and combining learning from across the curriculum. They will construct functional products to achieve a sense of satisfaction. Children will adapt and improve their work, and this will aid the children to become more resilient within themselves and be reflective of the wider world.

D&T Progression at Southwark

At Southwark, our Design & Technology curriculum in line line with expectations set out in the 2014 National primary Curriculum which provides a broad framework outlining the knowledge and skills taught in each Key Stage. Our programme of study is based around the Cornerstones Curriculum and is taught thematically through ‘projects’. Alongside this, D&T exemplification documents are used to ensure the progressive development of knowledge and skills as pupils progress through the key stages. Lessons are sequenced so that children’s knowledge of Design and Technology builds over time. Each project gives children the opportunity to broaden their knowledge and understanding of the skills, techniques, design, and processes across all aspects of D&T. To help children to learn and use the correct vocabulary, the projects introduce keywords and offer resources with a focus on language and vocabulary. It is planned and sequenced to develop deep, lasting learning and builds upon prior knowledge, which our children can use today, tomorrow and for the rest of their lives.

The aims of teaching Design and Technology in our school are to:

- Develop creative, technical and imaginative thinking in children and to develop confidence to participate successfully in an increasingly technological world.
- Enable children to talk about how things work and to develop their technical knowledge,
- Apply a growing body of knowledge, understanding and skills in order to design and make prototypes and products for a wide range of users,
- Encourage children to select appropriate tools and techniques when making a product, whilst following safe procedures,
- Develop an understanding of technological processes and products, their manufacture and their contribution to our society,
- Foster enjoyment, satisfaction and purpose in designing and making things,
- Critique, evaluate and test their ideas and products, and the work of others,
- Understand and apply the principles of nutrition and to learn how to cook,
- Understand how key events and individuals in design and technology have helped shape the world.

EYFS

Southwark pupils will have the confidence to take risks when tackling new challenges and be curious and creative to solve simple, manufactured/encountered problems practically. They will know and identify similarities and differences in a range of materials. They will know that different technology and tools are used to make different products and can select these appropriately for a given task. Children will begin to use simple equipment safely and effectively to effect changes to materials.

KS1

Southwark pupils will have the confidence to take greater risks when tackling new challenges and be curious and creative to solve manufactured/encountered problems practically to help the local community. Children will follow a process of design, make and evaluate to create purposeful products. They will be introduced to subject-specific vocabulary to articulate their proposed design and be shown the technology and techniques to carry this out. Children will use their knowledge and judgement to choose appropriate methods and materials and use these safely to meet a given criteria. Pupils will be consistently reflective to enable them to adapt and improve their work to ensure it is of good quality.

KS2

Southwark pupils will become confident risk-takers when tackling new challenges and be curious and creative to solve problems practically to satisfy evolving human needs, which will shape our world. Children will take personal responsibility for the process of designing, making and evaluating purposeful products using their cross-curricular knowledge. They will build on prior learning and be familiar with subject-specific vocabulary to articulate their proposed design and use appropriate technology to research the problem and techniques to carry this out. Children will use their knowledge and judgement to choose appropriate methods and materials from a wider range of options and use these safely to meet their self-initiated criteria. Pupils will be consistently reflective to enable them to adapt and improve their work to ensure it is of good quality and is functional for the purpose.