DT
What is DT?
Design and technology is a practical, dynamic, and cross-curricular subject. It requires knowledge from mathematics, science, engineering, computing, and art. Students use what they have learnt in these subjects to solve problems and complete design projects.
From an early age, design technology fosters creativity, problem-solving, manual skills, and the confidence to take on innovative tasks. It also encourages the ability to critically evaluate work. Plus, it’s exciting and fun.
Intent Statement- DT
Children are encouraged in design and technology to grow into independent, imaginative problem-solvers and thinkers both individually and as a team. It gives individuals the ability to recognise needs and opportunities and respond to them by developing a variety of ideas, products, and systems.
We want to foster in our children a sense of wonder that will lead them to ask questions and look for solutions when coming up with new concepts, learning new skills, and utilising fields like maths, physics, engineering, computing, and the arts. We engage our children with interesting design briefs and encourage a feeling of curiosity in them by allowing them to produce original work inspired by designers, architects, or engineers. We want children to develop the confidence to take risks, through drafting design concepts, modelling, and testing and to be reflective learners who evaluate their work and the work of others.
By encouraging our children to appreciate the design and creative industries, we can help them discover their own identities as young designers through promoting greater self-awareness and reaffirming their own ideals or perceptions of what design is.
Children may apply their imaginations and creative thinking skills through design and technology, all while working toward a clear goal and practical result. It is a part of children's direct experiences and is present in many of the items they utilise on a daily basis.
Progression of Skills
At Henham and Ugley Primary and Nursery School, our learning is progressive, which we demonstrate through the progression map below.
Please see the uploaded Progression Map below.
Long Term Planning
Please see the uploaded Long Term Planning below.
Assessment in DT
The Design and Technology curriculum revisits key concepts with increasing complexity. Each unit begins by reviewing related knowledge from previous years, helping students recall earlier lessons and connect them to new information, enhancing long-term memory.
Evaluation and assessment are essential in Design and Technology. We start projects by asking questions like "What do we understand by...?" or "How does this function?" using tools like 'Knowledge catchers' and disassembly. Teachers use progressive questioning to encourage higher-order thinking and evaluate the end-product through student assessment, ensuring students develop their understanding and skills.
Students will create a final product for their project, but the emphasis is on developing both practical skills and skills such as inquiry and evaluation. The final products may differ in outcome and suitability to the brief. At the end of each unit, there is a Kapow assessment quiz, and students will assess their products, evaluating their 'suitability to purpose' by revisiting the original design brief.
If you wish to find out more about our DT lessons, please contact the subject leader, Mrs Fleming for more information.