Design Technology

At St John’s Primary school we intend to build a Design and Technology curriculum which is inspiring, rigorous, and practical. We want our children to use creativity and imagination, to design and make products that solve real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts. 

We intend for all children to acquire appropriate subject knowledge, skills and understanding as set out in the National curriculum. It is our aim to create strong cross curricular links with other subjects, such as Maths, Science, Computing and Art.  

 Design and Technology is a crucial part of school life and learning and it is for that reason that as a school we are dedicated to the teaching and delivery of a high-quality Design and Technology curriculum which is implemented through: 

* A well thought out, whole school, yearly overview of the DT curriculum which allows for progression across year groups in structures, mechanisms, electrical systems and food.

* Well planned and resourced projects providing children with a hands- on and enriching experience.

* Teachers given ownership and flexibility to plan for Design and Technology; often teaching DT as a block of lessons to allow the time needed for the children to be critical, inventive and reflective on work.

*Each project from Year 1 to Year 6 addressing the principles of designing, making and evaluating process.

* Pupils being introduced to specific designers, chefs, nutritionists, etc, helping to engender an appreciation of human creativity and achievement and increase the cultural capital from which they draw in the future.

Early Years Foundation Stage 

During the EYFS pupils explore and use a variety of media and materials through a combination of child initiated and adult directed activities. They have the opportunity to use different media and materials to express their own ideas and then adapt their learning where necessary. Children learn where food comes from by growing their own, and the importance of a balanced, healthy and varied diet and how to prepare this. We have an allotment plot at school and different groups of children oversee this, to grow and harvest crops. 

Children will have a clear enjoyment and confidence in Design and Technology that they will then apply to other areas of the curriculum.  

We measure the impact of our DT curriculum through reflecting on standards achieved against the planned outcomes, pupil discussions about their learning and through collaboration of teachers and subject leader through monitoring, pupil voice and lesson observations.