Design Technology

DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY

Our Design & Technology curriculum at All Saints Academy

What do we want our children to learn?

Through our high-quality Design & Technology curriculum, children at All Saints Academy are encouraged to use their creativity and imagination to design and make products that solve real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts, considering their own and others’ needs, wants and values.

Our Design & Technology curriculum is guided by the National Curriculum (2014). The curriculum 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.

What does design and technology teaching and learning look like at ASA?

Although the ‘Technology’ aspect of the EYFS curriculum has been removed, children still start their Design and Technology journey in our EYFS, as the subject provides many opportunities to develop all areas of the current EYFS curriculum:

Communication and Language

Through Design and Technology, children listen carefully to instructions and follow them accurately when using tools and practising techniques. When responding to questioning, children explain how their own and others’ products work, say who they think they are for and what purposes they fulfil.

They develop technical vocabulary and learn how to express their ideas for what they want to design and make.

Personal, Social and Emotional Development

Design and Technology is ultimately about people and making things better for people. As a result, there are many issues to explore empathy, values and needs of users. Design and Technology also provides unique opportunities for children to develop their self-confidence and self-awareness, manage their feelings and make relationships.

Physical Development

Design and Technology activities can significantly help with fine and gross motor experiences in children. Opportunities for sensory explorations and co-ordination can be achieved through tasks and play. Using small tools, with feedback and support from adults, allows children to develop proficiency, control, and confidence.

Literacy

Communication is a key aspect in Design and Technology. We ensure there are opportunities for children to discuss their creations and those made by other people. As part of the EYFS curriculum that many children find accessible, enjoyable and motivational, Design and Technology provides contexts for children to communicate about what they have made and designed.

Maths

This area of learning enables children to explore and further their understanding of shapes, spatial awareness, and measure. Developing a risk-taking approach is also key and should help to embed a growth mindset which is vital for Design and Technology.

Understanding of the World

This area of learning enables children to learn about products and environments that have been designed and made by people. Children think about how a range of everyday and less familiar products are used in places such as schools and homes. They select and use these products for purposes and investigate and evaluate them using a range of questioning techniques. They talk about features of their indoor and outdoor environment.

Expressive Arts and Design

This is the area of learning where Design and Technology related aspects can be explored. The area focuses on children’s creative development and mentions the need for a wide range of materials, tools, and other resources. This provides opportunities for children’s learning in Design and Technology to draw on the ‘arts’ when they are designing and making.

Design and Technology Association, 2023

In Design and Technology, we often mention ‘something for somebody for some purpose’ and this is what our Design and Technology curriculum has been centred around.

We have used the Design and Technology Association guidance and Projects on a Page to create our long-term curriculum plan (see key documents/links below).

Each year group from Year 1 to Year 6 covers three units of Design and Technology per year. As children progress through school, they learn to work through the whole Design and Technology cycle during each unit studied:

Investigate
Plan (design)
Create (make)
Evaluate

The core themes that are taught through our Design and Technology curriculum are:

Textiles (3 units)
Structures (3 units)
Mechanisms (4 units)
Electrical Systems (2 units)
Food (6 units)

What is the impact of our Design & Technology curriculum?

Outcomes in books and final products evidence a broad and balanced Design & Technology curriculum and demonstrates the children’s acquisition of identified key knowledge and skills.

We share some of our learning on our Twitter feed #ASADTech

Key documents/links