Using creativity and imagination pupils design and make products that solve real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts. We teach pupils to become resourceful and think critically, evaluating their own work.
Design and Technology at South Harringay aims to inspire pupils to become innovative and creative thinkers who have an appreciation for the product design cycle (ideation, creation and evaluation). Through visual, tactile and sensory experiences, our children become active participants in their learning, equipped with the skills and confidence to take risks and problem solve. Across all year groups the children draft designs, create models, test products and critically evaluate their work and the work of others. Our curriculum provides ongoing opportunities for the children to showcase their work and contribute collaboratively to projects, thus encouraging a shared enthusiasm for Design and Technology within our school community. As the children progress through our school, they build upon a range of knowledge and skills which develop their ability and nurture their interests. Through our curriculum we aim to build the children’s awareness of the impact of design and technology in our lives, encouraging and motivating them to contribute to future advancements in design. Our curriculum is supported by ‘Kapow Primary’, a scheme written by experts in the field of Design and Technology, developed to meet National curriculum end of key stage attainment targets through fun and engaging lessons.
Design and Technology lessons at South Harringay engage and challenge the children as they become increasingly competent across a range of skills. In every year group the three main stages of the design process (design, make and evaluate) are revisited and a range of technical knowledge is taught discretely. This technical knowledge is broken into five key areas: mechanisms, structures, textiles, cooking and nutrition and electrical systems (KS2). These key areas increase in complexity from year to year, allowing pupils to revisit and build on their previous learning. During every lesson, the children are explicitly taught the key vocabulary which relates to that stage of the design progress and the technical area being explored.
Throughout our curriculum the children engage in a range of inventive tasks, with the children responding to design briefs and scenarios both independently and collaboratively. Our Design and Technology units have been intentionally sequenced to align with other subject areas, creating cross- curricular links and providing the children with a more wholistic approach to learning.
In all year groups, Design and Technology lessons are taught weekly, alternating termly with Art and Design units. In each unit the children record their ideas, annotations, creations, revisions, reflections and evaluations in sketch books. Lesson objectives and steps to success are clearly outlined for the children and lessons are scaffolded to ensure that all children have the opportunity to succeed in their learning. The high quality of work evident in the children’s Design and Technology sketch books reflect the value and importance we place on Design and Technology at South Harringay School.
Our curriculum is designed to encourage the children to take ownership of their learning during each stage of the design process (make, design, evaluate). The children reflect on the quality of their outcomes and suggest improvements that could be made. By taking part in regular discussions and decisions, the children not only develop technical knowledge and skills, but they are also able to talk confidently about their own learning journey. To ensure that our curriculum aligns with National curriculum objectives, our teachers constantly monitor the children’s understanding through formative assessment opportunities. Teachers use questioning techniques throughout lessons to check for understanding and the work recorded in sketch books is closely monitored.
Children at South Harringay will leave primary school equipped with technical knowledge across the five main areas, as well an appreciation for importance of Design and Technology within our society. We ensure that our curriculum forms a strong foundation for Design and Technology learning at Key Stage 3 and beyond.
The expected impact of our Design and Technology curriculum at South Harringay School is that children will:
- Understand the functional and aesthetic properties of a range of materials and resources
- Understand how to use and combine tools to carry our different processes for shaping, decorating and manufacturing products
- Build and apply a repertoire of skills, knowledge and understanding to produce high quality, innovative outcomes, including models, prototypes and products to fulfil the needs of users, clients and scenarios
- Understand and apply the principles of healthy eating, diets and recipes, including key processes, food groups and cooking equipment
- Have an appreciation for key individuals, inventions and events in history and of today that impact our world
- Recognise where our decisions can impact the wider world in terms of community, social and environmental issues
- Self-evaluate and reflect on learning at different stages and identify areas to improve
- Meet end of key stage expectations outlined in the National curriculum for Design and Technology
You can see our progress document by clicking here.
