Intent

We intend to provide a creative, purposeful and progressive design and technology curriculum. It is our aim to provide opportunities for children to master practical skills in order to create high quality products. This is planned through an iterative process where children ‘think, make, break and repeat’ in order to continually evaluate and make adjustments where necessary.  Our children will revisit and recap their knowledge and skills, enabling them to know more, remember more and apply more as they progress through school. They will be encouraged to work as part of a team and put forward their own individual visions when creating products – empowering them to become independent and collaborative thinkers and problem solvers.

Implementation

At Willow Bank Junior School, the teaching of Design and Technology follows the National Curriculum using the Chris Quigley Essential Curriculum. The goals that pupils should reach in Design Technology are divided into two ‘milestones’ that each spread over a two-year period. These cover food, textiles, materials, constructions and electronics. Each milestone builds upon the previous one.

Our DT curriculum is underpinned by three threshold concepts:

• Master practical techniques
• Take inspiration from design
• Design, make evaluate and improve
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Key skills knowledge for Design Technology have been mapped across the school to ensure progression between year groups. The context for the children’s work in Design and Technology is also well considered and children learn about real life structures and the purpose of specific examples, as well as developing their skills throughout the programme of study. Design and Technology lessons are taught as a blocks so that children’s learning is focused throughout each unit of work.

Impact

Through our relevant and aspirational Design and Technology curriculum, pupils at Willow Bank Junior School:

• develop the expertise needed to perform everyday tasks confidently and participate successfully in an increasingly technological world;
• build upon knowledge in a sequenced way to learn the techniques and skills needed to design and make high-quality prototypes and products;
•  are reflective and know how to critique, evaluate and test their ideas and products, as well as the work of others;
• understand the principles of nutrition and learn to cook meals to promote a healthy lifestyle.

The impact of the DT curriculum is reviewed through pupils’ completed work and projects, through class discussions, pupil voice activities, learning walks and termly at Pupil Progress Meetings.