INTENT

At Stoke Damerel Primary Academy, every Design Technology lesson builds on knowledge, skills and understanding from previous lessons and prior learning. Lessons are taught in a logical progression, systematically and explicitly enough for all pupils to acquire the intended knowledge and skills. Lessons follow a recognisable sequence that is pertinent to the International Primary Curriculum and moves learning forward. The I.P.C topics are linked to the English curriculum, enabling strong cross-curricular links to be formed. Reading is a focus to ensure all children can access all areas of Design Technology. All children, including the most disadvantaged pupils, the most able pupils and pupils with SEND receive the same challenge within the same broad curriculum. Children develop their vocabulary and knowledge in the Design Technology they learn. Children’s long term memory is developed to ensure they remember the key facts and information for each unit of learning or topic. Through the use of ‘Flashback’ recall starters, knowledge organisers and end-of-unit quizzes, children actively pertain the Golden Nuggets of key information from their prior learning.

IMPLEMENTATION

All lessons are planned using high quality and appropriate resources, using excellent Design Technology knowledge. The I.P.C curriculum follows a sequence of mapped out objectives, incorporating the knowledge, skills and understanding required to fully meet the National Curriculum (2014). Through a variety of creative and practical activities, pupils should be taught the knowledge, understanding and skills needed to engage in an iterative process of designing and making. They will work in a range of relevant contexts. They evaluate existing designs as well as their own. All lessons contain challenging, relevant vocabulary to extend children’s word banks. We encourage children to note connections, contrasts and trends over time and develop the correct use of Design Technology terms. Teachers employ a wide range of AfL strategies to support all learners and check pupils’ understanding (used to identify and correct misconceptions and to inform future teaching). Teachers use assessment to help pupils embed and use knowledge fluently.

IMPACT

At SDPA, we believe the study of Design Technology through the I.P.C makes a valuable contribution to children’s understanding of all aspects of life. Well-constructed and well-taught Design Technology lessons lead to good results because those results reflect what children have learned. All learning builds towards clearly defined exit points. Children are equipped to  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 and understand and apply the principles of nutrition and learn how to cook. All pupils will be able to present their understanding, findings, interpretations and opinions through speaking, writing, computing and a variety of artistic media.