Our Design and Technology curriculum, offers sequences of lessons to ensure pupils have progressively covered the knowledge, understanding and skills required in the National Curriculum. Design and Technology aims to inspire children through a broad range of practical experiences to create innovative designs which solve real and relevant problems within a variety of different contexts. The units encourage children to identify real and relevant problems, critically evaluate existing products and then take risks and innovate when designing and creating solutions to the problems. As part of the process, time is built in to reflect, evaluate and improve on prototypes using design criteria throughout to support this process.
Opportunities are provided for children to evaluate key events and individuals who have helped shape the world, showing the real impact of design and technology on the wider environment and helping to inspire children to become the next generation of innovators.
Through these lessons, we intend to inspire pupils to develop a love of Design and Technology and see how it has helped shaped the ever-evolving technological world they live in.
Through these lessons, we intend to inspire pupils to develop a love of Design and Technology and the skills to continue to pursue it. As with all of our curriculum subjects our Art and Design curriculum has our school vision at its heart.
‘But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.’ Isaiah 40:31
At Weston Lullingfields, ‘within our small school big family with God’ community, we live out Isaiah’s message of hope through celebrating and nurturing resilience. Our curriculum promotes awe and wonder and is relevant to our children as we help them to prepare for all of life beyond our school gates.
We live out our vision through the Christian values of courage, perseverance, respect, and thankfulness with forgiveness threading through all values.
We understand that God’s heart is for all of us to soar like eagles. However, the reality is that we live in a world that is full of wows and ows – with all the challenges this leads to. God’s heart is for us to live in community where we gain the skills, confidence, and self-belief to overcome these challenges and therefore to soar.
In KS1 and 2 a sequence of lessons takes place over a half termly block alternating with Art and Design. In Acorns class the curriculum is delivered in a two-year rolling programme. In Oak Class the units are arranged in a four-year rolling programme. Because of our mixed age classes art skills and knowledge may be met at different stages in children’s learning journeys. Teachers are mindful of this when planning and ensure support and challenge is built into each unit by using steps of progression. Our Design and Technology lessons use common language, progression and continuity. The revision and introduction of key vocabulary is built into each lesson through the use of unit knowledge organisers which are referred to at the beginning of every lesson. This practice helps children to revisit and consolidate previous learning. Lessons develop pupils’ techniques, including their control and their use of materials, with creativity, experimentation and an increasing awareness of different kinds of technology and design. Children develop an understanding of how Design and Technology both reflect and shape our history, and contribute to the culture, creativity and wealth of our nation.
Design and Technology learning is enjoyed by pupils across school. Teachers have higher expectations and quality evidence can be presented in a variety of ways, although all contributions will be valued. All children use technical vocabulary accurately and pupils are expected to know, apply and understand the matters, skills and processes specified. Children improve their enquiry skills and inquisitiveness about the world around them, and their impact through Design and Technology on the world. Children will become more confident in analysing their work and giving their opinion on their own and others work. Children show competences in improving their resilience and perseverance by continually evaluating and improving their work. All children in school can speak confidently about their Design and Technology work and their skills.