Subject Leader: Miss J Ashby

Intent:

The intention of the Design Technology curriculum is to provide opportunities for students to develop their knowledge of materials, food ingredients  and manufacturing processes through practical tasks. Pupils work using an iterative design process focusing on research, design, development and realisation.  The intention is to develop independent learning through problem solving and developing their work through informed decisions. The Design Technology curriculum has been specifically designed to meet the needs of all pupils regardless of their previous experiences or potential barriers to learning. We make use of subject specialist teaching across all four year groups, with a specialist food room, tech workshop, textiles room and resources.

Our main aims are to:

  • Live: Ensure pupils know how to design and manufacture products using a range of materials so they are ready for their next stage of education 
  • Love: To help broaden pupils’ access to a range of materials and manufacturing techniques and foster a love of designing, manufacturing and creative thinking.
  • Learn: Develop pupils’ as independent, confident and successful designers and manufacturers

There are five main concepts that run through the Design Technology curriculum at Edward Peake. These are:

  • Designing: Pupils understand the needs of a range of contexts and users and are able to generate and model ideas for these.
  • Making: Pupils master a range of practical skills and can plan which are suitable to use to make a range of products.
  • Evaluating: Pupils can critically evaluate their work and the work of existing designers and use this knowledge in the development of their ideas.
  • Technical knowledge: Pupils gain knowledge that can be used to make decisions about making products work.
  • Cooking and nutrition: Pupils master a range of practical skills and develop their knowledge of nutrition and where foods come from.

Implementation:

Pupils are encouraged to broaden and deepen their subject knowledge across Design Technology whilst showing a positive attitude to learning. This is implemented through a range of projects focusing on developing knowledge, research, design, manufacture and evaluation. At KS2 pupils have one hour a week of Design Technology, they spend a term developing their knowledge in each subject area. At KS3 pupils have 2 hour lessons on a rota basis. Pupils have access to a wide range of specialist practical rooms and equipment in every year group.

  Live: Ensure pupils use iterative design, develop knowledge of materials, processes, skills, and the work of existing designers. Love: Introduce pupils to new skills, materials, ingredients and technologies, and develop their creativity and problem solving. Learn: Develop pupils skills and techniques working with a range of materials, ingredients and processes.
In the classroom

Project based sequenced learning with prior learning revisited and built upon.

Values of existing design movements and designers explored.

Practical based learning supported with tasks to develop knowledge of ingredients and healthy eating.

Problem solving creatively to come up with their own solutions to design briefs. 

Developing different skills and techniques through working with a range of materials.

Developing different skills and techniques through working with a range of ingredients.

Adapting ingredients and techniques to make dishes suitable for a variety of situations.

Demonstrating a range of skills and techniques with a variety of materials through their project work.

Evaluating and forming opinions of their work and the work of existing movements and designers.

Demonstrating a range of skills and techniques with a variety of ingredients. 

Evaluating the success of dishes and how they could be modified

Out of the classroom

Close links with feeder lower & upper schools

Visits from members of the wider community & world of work

Extra-curricular clubs

Community events

Opportunities for trips and in-house visits

Appropriate & challenging home learning

Access to online resources

Intervention strategies & support

Impact:

Pupils in Design Technology achieve academically, are ready for their next steps in education and have high aspirations for their future. Pupils can confidently apply their knowledge and skills. They are critical thinkers and can evaluate their work and refine it.

Live: Ensure pupils use iterative design, develop knowledge of materials, processes, skills, and the work of existing designers. Love: Introduce pupils to new skills, materials, ingredients and technologies, and develop their creativity and problem solving. Learn: Develop pupils skills and techniques working with a range of materials, ingredients and processes.

Pupils show excellent attitudes to learning.

Pupils are confident in what they have learnt and how to apply the knowledge and skills they have gained.

Pupils are able to share their knowledge with their peers.

Pupils have high aspirations for their future.

Pupils have an understanding of the work of designers from around the world and how others live.

Pupils have knowledge of a wide range of dishes and traditions from around the world.

Pupils make good progress and are able to achieve academic success.

Disadvantaged pupils are supported in order to close the gap between themselves and their peers.

Pupils’ progress across their Design technology lessons is evident over the four years at Edward Peake.