Design Technology
Subject Leader: Lisa Clarke
Link Governor: Mike Leigh
At Clapham Terrace we are passionate about giving children opportunities for creativity through practical tasks. Design Technology teaching is split into three types of activity:
- The children start each unit of work by investigating and evaluating a range of existing products and find out about Design Technology in the wider world. We link this to our topics wherever possible, for example: Egyptian Shadufs and Anglo Saxon round houses, and to our local area (automotive industry).
- Next, the children complete a series of focussed tasks where they are taught specific technical knowledge, design skills and making skills.
- Then, they design, make and evaluate their own product. This is where children create functional products with uses and purposes in mind.
We deepen the children’s understanding of design, by contextualising their projects. Giving them an overview of what they will be designing, making and evaluating before they undertake any activities. Through investigation and focussed tasks, children are equipped with the knowledge, understanding and skills to engage successfully and with increasing independence in the designing, making and evaluating phases.
DT: Statement of Intent
At Clapham Terrace our design and technology (DT) curriculum intends to prepare children for the developing world as we recognise high-quality DT education makes an essential contribution to the creativity, culture, wealth and well-being of the nation. The curriculum is inspiring and practical which provides the children from nursery to year 6, children with opportunities to develop skills, knowledge and understanding of designing and making functional products including nutrition.
Through the curriculum we intend to nurture creativity and innovation and also support our pupils as they take risks on the road to becoming resourceful and enterprising citizens who can solve problems in real and relevant contexts.
Through the study of design and technology our children combine practical skills with an understanding of aesthetic and current social and environmental issues, in order to design and make a product. Evaluation is an integral part of the design process and allows children to adapt and improve their product. We intend for the children to children to become discriminating and informed consumers and potential innovators through the DT curriculum.
All children study a food and nutrition unit every year. Learning how to cook is a crucial life skill that enables pupils to feed themselves and others affordably and well, now and in later life.
At Clapham Terrace we aim to link DT to other disciplines such as mathematics, science, engineering, computing and art. The children are also given opportunities to reflect upon and evaluate past and present design technology, its uses and its effectiveness and are encouraged to become innovators and risk-takers.
