Gardners Lane Primary School

Design and Technology should encourage pupils to learn, think and work creatively in order to solve problems both as individuals and as members of a team. Children use products that have been designed and made and should be given the opportunity to better understand the environment that they live, work and play in. Pupils should be taught to look for opportunities and to respond to them by developing a range of ideas and making a range of products. They should also reflect on and evaluate present and past design technology, its uses and its effectiveness.

Aims of Design & Technology

• to teach and develop pupils’ creative, technical and practical knowledge and understanding (within each child’s ability) needed to perform everyday tasks confidently and to participate successfully in an increasingly technological world.
• to teach pupils the safe and effective use of a range of tools, materials and components, including food preparation and storage.
• 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 uses.
• critique, evaluate and test pupils’ ideas and products and the work of others.
• understand and apply the principles of nutrition and learn how to cook healthy, balanced meals.,
• to develop pupils’ understanding of the ways in which people have designed products in the past and present to meet their needs,
• to develop pupils’ understanding of technological processes, their management and their contribution to society.
• to explore attitudes towards the man made world, how we live and work in it and how we will live and work in it in the future

Design & Technology in relation to the National Curriculum

Design and Technology will be taught through topics and linked to other subjects, except where it is inappropriate to do so.

About 5% of the curriculum time should be given to D and T throughout the year and the work covered in each year group will ensure a balance of:

• Investigative, disassembly and evaluative activities,
• Focused practical tasks,
• Designing and making assignments,
• Food preparation and cooking.

There will be good and clear links where possible with core subjects (English, Mathematics and Science) and pupils will be encouraged to share their ideas through writing and discussion, apply mathematical skills when designing and take advantage of ICT by using valuable resources such as the internet whilst researching and designing their product.

Planning of Design & Technology

During their time in the school children study Design and Technology in the following areas: electricity, food, textiles and materials. Teaching is planned using a wide range of approaches, which clearly match to the differing needs of the children, the objectives to be covered and the resources which are available.

The National Curriculum will be used as a baseline planning tool for teaching staff when ensuring key skills are addressed appropriately.

To view what your child is studying access the class page.