Design & Technology 

Introduction:

Design & Technology (DT) at Oakdene Primary Academy is made up of two strands: Designing, Making and Evaluating Products, and Cooking and Nutrition. It is imperative that both strands are taught to a high standard throughout KS1 and KS2. 

Intent of DT Curriculum: 

At Oakdene Primary Academy, we intend that children should master Design and Technology to such an extent that they can go on to have careers within the field and make use of design and technology effectively in their everyday lives. Our children will be taught DT in a way that ensures progression of skills and follows a sequence that builds on previous learning. 

Children will gain practical experience and skills across a wide range of formal elements of design and concepts of technology in a safe and engaging way. This will enhance their learning opportunities, enabling them to use DT across a range of subjects and contexts to be creative and solve real and relevant problems, considering their own and others’ needs, wants and values. Our aim is for all children to make progress and strive for excellence. 

In EYFS, DT begins with child-initiated exploration of technological toys, different materials, tools and techniques to construct with purpose in mind. 

In Key Stage 1, children begin to put this exploration into action by designing, making and evaluating purposeful, functional and appealing products for themselves. They select and use a range of tools and materials to perform practical tasks according to specific characteristics. Children build structures, explore and use mechanisms, and prepare healthy and varied dishes with an understanding of where food comes from. 

In Key Stage 2, children use research to devise their own design criteria to aid the creation of innovative, functional and appealing products fit for purpose and a target audience. They select and use a wider range of tools and materials, work with more complex structures, understand and use mechanical and electrical systems, apply computing knowledge in their products, and prepare and cook predominantly savory dishes, understanding seasonality and the origins of ingredients. 

Implementation: 

We ensure that Design and Technology is embedded in our whole school curriculum and that opportunities for enhancing learning through DT are always taken. DT is delivered as part of an immersive curriculum with links often made to Science, History or Geography. However, DT is taught as a discrete subject, and children are aware when they are studying Design and Technology. 

Each unit begins with a big question which children consider as they design their product. 

We follow a broad and balanced DT curriculum that builds on previous learning and provides both support and challenge for learners. Our chosen scheme ensures progression of skills and full coverage of the DT curriculum. Class teachers may deliver DT lessons as a blocked unit within a week or as a sequence of lessons over a half term. 

Children’s work and photographs of their work are placed into their DT books for reference and assessment. 

Impact: 

Children at Oakdene Primary Academy enjoy and value Design and Technology and understand the purpose behind their learning. They appreciate the value of DT in the context of personal wellbeing, creativity, and the wider cultural industries and career opportunities. 

Progress in DT is demonstrated through regular review and scrutiny of children’s work to ensure skill progression, including: 

• Looking at pupils’ work over time 

• Observing performance in lessons 

• Talking to pupils about their learning 

Summative assessment data is provided termly by class teachers, indicating the number of children performing below, at, or above age-related expectations. This informs the subject leader of progress toward developing age-related skills and knowledge. 

The DT curriculum contributes to children’s personal development in creativity, independence, judgement and self-reflection. This is evident in their ability to talk confidently about their work and share it with others. 

Progress is shown through outcomes and through the important record of the process leading to them.