Design and Technology
At St Edward's, our children love creative projects! We believe that Design and Technology has a vital place in education and the wider community. Through design and technology we encourage pupils to become independent, creative problem-solvers and thinkers as individuals and as part of a team. This allows them to make positive changes to their quality of life. We hope to develop skills which will later prove useful in life and potentially the workplace.
Design is intelligence made visible.
Alina Wheeler
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 within a variety of contexts, therefore helping pupils to acquire the skills needed to be successful in later life. Pupils learn how to take risks, becoming resourceful, innovative, enterprising and capable citizens. We aim wherever possible to draw on disciplines such as mathematics, science, engineering, computing and art.
We have identified key threads which run through our Design and Technology Curriculum and have real relevance to our children:
Textiles - Rochdale became a major centre for textile manufacture during the Industrial Revolution. It was a boom town of the Industrial Revolution, and amongst the first ever industrialised towns. We ensure children at St Edward's are aware of this heritage when they learn Design and Technology. Children are also given the understanding that learning about textiles is extremely relevant in their day to day life.
Mechanisms and Structures (including electricity) – Castleton is surrounded by mills and cotton factories and we believe it is important that children can learn about mechnisms and structures within this context. We would like them to be proud of their identity as a resident of Rochdale.
Cooking and Nutrition – We know that Rochdale has been named one of the most deprived areas of the UK, and obesity is highest in these regions. Because of this, we work hard to provide our children with the knowledge and skills necessary for a healthy, active life style which will set them on a positive path for life.
OUR AIMS
Our 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.
ST EDWARD'S DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY CURRICULUM
Design and Technology is planned in line with the statements laid out in the national curriculum. We have identified core sticky knowledge points with our pupils in mind. These key skills and key knowledge have been carefully mapped across the school to ensure progression between year groups. We also ensure that there is a context for the children’s work in Design and Technology.
Design and Technology units are taught as a block so that children’s learning is focused throughout each unit of work. We have used some of Cornerstones Maestro’s units as inspiration, but staff adapt them so that they suit the needs of our children.
EYFS
Design and Technology plays a vital part in learning in the Early Years Foundation Stage. Design and Technology in EYFS enables learners to make sense of the 'made world' in which they live, by making, changing and modifying (or designing) things for themselves.
Design is not just about drawing, but about thinking, involving some experience, some imagination and a willingness to change and modify ideas. Technology, on the other hand, is about doing - making something for a purpose, involving putting ideas into practice and having an awareness of the possibilities and limitations of different materials, including making mistakes.
Design and Technology is continuously taught in the Early Years through continuous provision, linked to current learning. By the end of the school year children should be able to: Safely use and explore a variety of materials, tools and techniques, experimenting with colour, design, texture, form and function. Share their creations, explaining the process they have used, and make use of props and materials when role playing characters in narratives and stories.
A Curriculum for Our Children
We have identified some core barriers that the children of our school face when they are accessing the curriculum, and we intend to deliver the Design and Technology curriculum with an approach that addresses these:
- Vocabulary – during lessons children will be introduced to a variety of specific vocabulary and will be helped to understand the words in a meaningful context.
- Communication and teamwork skills – Children are given plenty of opportunity to work as part of a team, where they will consider their own and others’ needs, wants and values. They learn to peer evaluate, and are explicitly taught to give feedback thoughtfully and sensitively.
- Resilience – we design challenging tasks in our Design and Technology curriculum, allowing children to take risks in a safe environment where growth mindset is incorporated to help pupils achieve.