Design Technology

Design & Technology curriculum intent statement 

Intent

 At Mareham, our D&T curriculum ensures that knowledge and key skills are taught in a systematic, well-planned and progressive manner.

 At Mareham, our whole curriculum is driven by:

  • creating a sense of awe and wonder – curiosity, excitement, getting children to think and enquire more
  • our place in our world - respect for living things, local, national and global knowledge and beyond, cultures, traditions, diversity
  • vocabulary – refines and enriches communication, better understanding and language

 We aim to develop our children – physically, socially, mentally, culturally and spiritually – to embrace lifelong learning with a sense of awe and wonder in order to make a positive contribution to the local and wider community.

We intend is to provide children with a real-life context for learning and to equip children with design skills to develop their knowledge through product research,  building products, making prototypes, testing, designing and evaluating. As an inspiring and practical subject, we intend to prepare children to deal with an ever-changing technological world, encouraging them to become creative and resourceful problem solvers, working both independently and as members of a team.

As designers, pupils are exposed to a wide and rich curriculum that links local and world-wide art, allowing them to apply new vocabulary, knowledge and skills.

Our Christian values shape how we behave, what we say, how we build relationships and how we learn. Our Art curriculum is designed to help each child to be able to think, create and speak like an artist; developing  independence for learning whilst achieving academically and meeting age-related expectations by the end of their primary education.

We are friendly, inclusive to all and build resilience; encourage a positive mindset amongst our children as it is often through mistakes that we learn the most. Everyone thrives through feeling safe, confident and valued and the well-being of each and every individual is a priority.

 'Live life to the full and create a better future for all.'

 Implementation

At Mareham, children are expected to work hard and demonstrate positive learning behaviours to maximise their own individual learning potential. We are committed to working in partnership with parents as we believe that when home and school work closely together we get the best outcomes. Lessons follow clear objectives and teachers check pupils’ understanding and knowledge, identify misconceptions accurately and provide clear, direct feedback, responding and adapting their teaching as necessary. Open discussions and questioning are used effectively throughout the curriculum.

D&T is carefully planned over the long term so that pupils acquire and build on the knowledge and cultural capital they need to broaden their horizons, become aspirational citizens and succeed in life.

Key vocabulary is carefully chosen. This is displayed in classrooms and shared at the start of all lessons. Children are encouraged to use the key vocabulary to talk ‘like a designer’                                                                                                                                 

Impact

 As a Year 6 Designer transitioning into secondary school, we aspire that pupils not only achieve the age-appropriate standard at the end of Key Stage 2 but they have begun their journey as designers. Children will know more, remember more and understand more. Children will retain prior-learning and explicitly make connections between what they have previously learned and what they are currently learning. It is our intention that the learning environment across the school will be more consistent with design and technology technical vocabulary displayed, spoken and used by all learners. Children will be equipped with skills and knowledge that will enable them to be ready for the curriculum at Key Stage 3 and for life as a capable citizen in the wider world.

 They are also enabled to have:

  • the ability to use time efficiently and work constructively and productively with others.
  • the ability to carry out thorough research, show initiative and ask questions to develop a detailed knowledge of users’ needs.
  • the ability to act as responsible designers and makers, working ethically, using a range of materials carefully and working safely.
  • a thorough knowledge of which tools, equipment and materials to use to make their products.
  • the ability to apply mathematical knowledge and skills accurately.
  • the ability to manage risks, be resourceful, innovative and enterprising to manufacture products safely and hygienically.
  • a passion for Design & Technology.