Rationale:

The ethos of Design and Technology weaves in well with our school visions and values; particularly the final two.

Be curious about the world around you, ask questions and investigate.

During the research and design phase of a project these values are key in DT.  The children should be curious and play with ideas, not being afraid of getting it wrong. It is also important that the first idea is not the only idea whilst designing a product.

Persevere and be resilient - be the best you can.  

Our children mustn't be afraid to pull their build apart and start again from scratch.  It is key that playing and tinkering with ideas allows different ideas to flourish.  Maybe the fifth design would be much better than the first...who knows unless we are willing to show how resilient we are! 

Rationale:

Burradon Community Primary School believes that Design and Technology prepares
children to take part in the development of tomorrow’s rapidly changing world. The subject
encourages children to become self-directed and creative problem-solvers, both as individuals and
as part of a team. It enables them to identify needs and opportunities and to respond by
developing ideas and eventually making products and systems.

Intent:

The intent of Design and Technology at Burradon Community Primary School are:

• To develop children’s skills in identifying a need, generating ideas, designing, making and evaluating.
• To develop imaginative thinking in children and to enable them to talk about what they like and dislike when evaluating products and when designing and making.
• To enable children to talk about how things work and to draw and model their ideas.
• To encourage children to select appropriate tools and techniques for making a product, whilst following safe procedures.
• To explore attitudes towards the made world and how we live and work within it.
• To develop an understanding of technological processes, products, and their manufacture, and their contribution to our society.
• To foster enjoyment, satisfaction and purpose in designing and making.
• To develop children’s curiosity, originality, co-operation and perseverance.
• To encourage children’s technical vocabulary.
• To provide opportunities for children to work both individually and as part of a team.

Implementation: Teaching and Learning:

At Burradon Community Primary School Design and Technology is taught in all classes from
Foundation Stage to Year 6. We use a variety of teaching and learning styles in Design and
Technology lessons. The principal aim is to develop children’s knowledge, skills and understanding in
Design and Technology. Teachers ensure that the children apply their knowledge and understanding
when investigating products, developing ideas, planning and making products and then evaluating
them. We do this through a mixture of whole-class teaching and individual/group activities. Within
lessons, we give children the opportunity both to work on their own and to collaborate with others,
listening to other children’s ideas and treating these with respect. Children critically evaluate
existing products, their own work and that of others. They have the opportunity to use a wide
range of materials and resources, including ICT.

Three main elements are planned into each Design and Technology topic:
1- Investigation and Evaluation Activities
2- Focus Practical Tasks to develop skills
3- Design and Make Activities and Evaluate

The investigational activities are the exploratory part of a topic to raise awareness of materials,
methods, items and objects presently used.

The focussed practical tasks are the skill-based activities where the children’s work is directed to
practise or develop particular skills.

The Design and Make Activities are the more open activities where the children can use their skills
to design and make their best design solutions. 

What do our children think of Design Technology?

EYFS: 

Year 1: 

Year 2:

Year 3:

What does DT stand for?

Design Technology 

 

Why do you think we teach DT in school?

In case you want to have a job using DT like a builder, engineer and more. 

 

What projects have you completed in DT?

A Christmas box and going to produce food dishes in spring

 

What skills do you use in DT?

Not sure. 

 

Do you like DT and what have you enjoyed most in DT?

Doing boxes - a Christmas house. 

 

Yes like it because you get to design, create things and learn more stuff. 

 

How could make DT better in our school?

Try to make more things - gingerbread house at Christmas but from actual gingerbread

Year 4

Year 5: 

Year 6: