Design and Technology
At Torridon primary school, we encourage our children to fully immerse themselves in the role of designer. We provide them with the tools to experiment, create and design. We also nurture artistic talent and critical thinking and help them to gain a deeper understanding of the subject.
Design and technology is an inspiring, rigorous and practical subject, preparing our children to deal with tomorrows rapidly changing world. Children learn about inspiring technological, industrial and environmental achievements and their impact on our society. Using creativity and imagination, pupils design and make products that solve real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts, considering their own and others’ needs, wants and values. They acquire a broad range of subject knowledge and draw on disciplines such as mathematics, science, engineering, computing and art. Children learn how to take risks, becoming resourceful, innovative, enterprising and capable citizens. Through the evaluation of past and present design and technology, they develop a critical understanding of its impact on daily life and the wider world.
High-quality design and technology education makes an essential contribution to the creativity, culture, wealth and well-being and values of the society we live in and the impact choices make to future generations and the environment we live in.
Aims of our Curriculum
The national curriculum for design and technology aims to ensure that all pupils:
- develop the creative, technical and practical expertise needed to perform everyday tasks confidently and to participate successfully in an increasingly technological world
- build and apply a repertoire of knowledge, understanding and skills in order to design and make high-quality prototypes and products for a wide range of users
- critique, evaluate and test their ideas and products and the work of others
- understand and apply the principles of nutrition and learn how to cook.
Through a variety of creative and practical activities, we teach the knowledge, understanding and skills needed to engage in an iterative process of designing and making. The children work in a range of relevant contexts, for example, home, school, leisure, culture, enterprise, industry and the wider environment.
When designing and making, the children are taught to:
Design:
• use research and develop design criteria to inform the design of innovative, functional, appealing products that are fit for purpose, aimed at a particular audience
• generate, develop, model and communicate their ideas through discussion, annotated sketches, cross-sectional diagrams, prototypes, pattern pieces and
computer-aided design
Make:
• select from and use a wider range of tools and equipment to perform practical tasks, for example, cutting, shaping, joining and finishing, accurately
• select from and use a wider range of materials and components, including construction materials, textiles and ingredients according to their functional properties and aesthetic qualities
Evaluate:
• investigate and analyse a range of existing products
• evaluate their ideas and products against their own design criteria and consider the views of others to improve their work
• understand how key events and individuals in design and technology have helped to shape the world
Technical knowledge:
• apply their understanding of how to strengthen, stiffen and reinforce more complex structures
• understand and use mechanical systems in their products
• understand and use electrical systems in their products
• apply their understanding of computing to program, monitor and control their products
Key skills and key knowledge and vocabulary for D and T have been mapped across the school to ensure progression between year groups. The context for the children’s work in Design and Technology is also well considered and children learn about real life structures and the purpose of specific examples, as well as developing their skills throughout the programme of study.
Children learn how to take risks, becoming resourceful, innovative, enterprising and capable citizens. Through the evaluation of past and present design and technology, they develop a critical understanding of its impact on daily life and the wider world.
High-quality design and technology education makes an essential contribution to the creativity, culture, wealth and well-being of the nation. Children will develop their resilience when designs go wrong, perseverance and determination through problems, teamwork in group projects and have high aspirations for their DT designs.
By the end of each key stage, pupils are expected to know, apply and understand the matters, skills and processes specified in the relevant programme of study.