At Irby Primary School we are dedicated to creating and delivering an exciting and engaging Design and Technology curriculum, which is essentially providing pupils with the widest range of opportunities possible.
Design & Technology is a fundamental subject, which educates students in how to analyse and solve problems, produce high quality solutions and learn how to convert their ideas into working products.
We wish to enable the understanding and appreciation of Design and Technology from a variety of cultures, styles and periods of time by providing a broad and balanced curriculum which caters to the needs of all children. The DT curriculum should enable children to develop visual and tactile awareness, children should be taught to problem solve, to explore existing products and designs, to identify visual and practical characteristics and to follow the design, make and evaluate cycle of DT. This gives children the opportunity to design and make a wide variety of products in a range of medium including wood, textiles, recycled materials, cardboard, plastic and food. This process may take place both individually and as part of a group.
At Irby Primary school, we intend that children should master Design and Technology to such an extent that they can go on to have careers within Design and Technology and make use of Design and Technology effectively in their everyday lives. Our children will be taught Design and Technology in a way that ensures progression of skills and knowledge, and follows a sequence to build on previous learning. Our children will gain experience and skills of a wide range of formal elements of design and concepts of technology in a way that will enhance their learning opportunities.
By planning a series of well sequenced lessons, we are able to ensure that the full design and making process is covered, from analysing the existing products, planning and making a product, through to evaluating the finished version made by the children. Specific and appropriate vocabulary will be taught and explored in order to support and extend learning and achieve a high level of understanding. We aim to, wherever possible, link work to other disciplines such as mathematics, science, engineering, computing and art. The children are encouraged to become innovators and risk-takers.
We ensure that we give the children safe and supervised exposure to relevant tools and allow them to select the best tool for the job. Children are also able to choose from arrange of materials and be asked to justify their decisions during the design phase. They are then able to reflect on the effectiveness of said tools and materials during the evaluation phase.
Early Years
In Foundation 2 children will have the same access to the DT curriculum as KS1 children. The emphasis for Foundation 2 is to develop DT through creative activities that are topic based and in line with the Early Learning Goals.
Role of Computing
Specific programmes are available to each year group to support the children’s learning. The smartboards are used to display visual examples of work, including the children’s own and that of other designers. Graphic design is often used in computing lessons as a further outlet for design. Children could use drawing programs and control programmes amongst other things.
British Values
Collaborative work in design and technology develops mutual respect for the differing opinions, beliefs and abilities of others. In addition, children develop a respect for the environment, for their own health and safety and that of others. They learn to appreciate the value of similarities and differences and learn to show tolerance. A variety of experiences teaches them to appreciate that all people – and their views – are equally important. Children are encouraged to work in a democratic way, exercising the ‘give and take’ required for successful teamwork.