Purpose of Study
Design and Technology is an inspiring, rigorous and practical subject. Using creativity and imagination, pupils design and make products that solve real and relevant problems in a variety of contexts. They acquire a broad range of subject knowledge and draw on other disciplines e.g., maths, computing, science and art. Pupils learn how to take risks, becoming resourceful, innovative and enterprising. Through the evaluation of design past and present, they understand the contribution that high-quality design and technology has on the creativity, culture, wealth and wellbeing of a nation.
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.
Who is the Carville Designer?
The Carville Designer understands the iterative nature of the design process and uses this to research, design, communicate, make and evaluate a range of prototypes and products. Children exercise their creativity through designing and making and are supported through progressive skills teaching to develop their understanding and technical ability of Design and Technology.
They are resourceful, innovative and bold and can suggest ways to solve real and relevant problems. Children evaluate theirs and others work at various stages as an integral part of their design process. The
Carville Designer has a wide repertoire of skills and can apply this understanding to a range of contexts e.g., mechanical systems, electrical systems and structures. They understand the basics of cooking and principles of nutrition and can apply this to meal design and preparation.
At Carville, we recognise that our children are very creative and resourceful but often lack the technical skills and resilience to “stick with” activities and learning when it becomes challenging, or when reality does not meet expectation. We aim to develop pupils’ resilience and understanding of the design process through supportive environments and real world examples of modern design and the perseverance needed from creative designers.
At Carville, we are aware of the impact of poor nutrition, unhealthy food choices and high obesity rates for a lot of our children. Through design and technology, we seek to address this by providing children with the knowledge, skills and resources to promote a healthy lifestyle. Education about nutrition and health is supported by government initiatives such as Fit4Life, with opportunities to educate whole families. Delivered in our bespoke school kitchen, food technology lessons and cooking clubs allow children hands on experience of cooking simple, healthy meals with readily available ingredients that they are able to replicate in their home environments.
Carville Curriculum Rationale
In order to deliver effective teaching and learning in design and technology, we ensure the following:
- Provision of supportive and adaptive environments to allow children to complete challenging projects and develop personal skills.
- Purposeful, hands-on and engaging learning opportunities encourage understanding of the iterative process;
- Progressive skills-based curriculum builds upon prior knowledge and experience.
- Objectives across all strands revisited and embedded within and across year groups and key stages to ensure cumulative fluency;
- Meaningful links made across subject areas to promote cross-curricular thinking; particularly within Mathematics, Science and Art and Design.
- Pupils’ character development underpinned by transferable skills e.g. being resourceful, resilient and innovative.
- Key vocabulary is specifically taught as in science and is displayed in classrooms during topics.
- Children are supported to view evaluation as an integral part of the design process. This allows children to adapt and improve their product; a key skill which they need throughout their lives.
- Children will often work in pairs and small groups to complete projects to encourage the development of their relational and communication and language skills.
