Design and Technology in primary schools develops children’s skills and knowledge in design, structures, mechanisms, electrical control and a range of materials, including food.’ It encourages children’s creativity and encourages them to think about important issues.

– Design and Technology Association

At Stoke Bishop we believe that DT enables children to implement skills learnt maths, English and science in a practical and fun manner. It helps to establish a context for the children’s learning that makes it easier for them digest what they are taught.  It provides opportunities to develop skills, knowledge and understanding of working designs and helps the children to understand the progression of  the designed and made world in which we all live and work.

Curriculum and Provision

Design and Technology is taught throughout Key Stages 1 and 2.  At least twice a year a DT unit of work is taught to each year group, often forming part of the class’s topic, thereby providing children with a relevant and meaningful context.  This includes the two aspects of DT: design and making; cooking and nutrition.

Through a variety of creative and practical activities, pupils are taught the knowledge, understanding and skills needed to engage in an iterative process (design, make, evaluate) of designing and making.  Skills are developed and built upon as the children progress through their time at Stoke Bishop.  

Children are provided opportunities to work with a variety of materials and textiles as well as food preparation and cooking. The development of the school garden is central to this with each year group growing fruit and vegetables which at a later date are harvested and used in the preparation of a sweet or savoury dish.

Purpose

At Stoke Bishop the purpose of the Design and Technology curriculum is to allow children to develop the creative, technical and practical expertise needed to perform everyday tasks confidently and to participate successfully in an increasingly technological world.  They will 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 uses. This will also include developing their understanding and the application of the principles of nutrition and begin to learn how to cook.  Children will also have adequate time to critique, evaluate and test their ideas and products, and the work of others. 

Assessment

Three times a year the subject leader will conduct a review of the Design and Technology taught throughout the school to gauge the children’s understanding of the subject and the outcomes.  This will take the form of pupil conferencing and the reviewing of other evidence acquired during the teaching of the units (work in books, photos, annotations, etc).  Further to this, class teachers will continuously assess during lessons to address misconceptions and any difficulties children may be facing.  Formative assessment will record children’s progress as they move through the school.