Design and Technology Intent and Progression
Design and Technology at St John’s is an inspiring, rigorous and practical subject. Using creativity and imagination, our pupils design and make products that solve real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts, considering their own and others’ needs, wants and values. As our pupils progress through school they acquire a broad range of subject knowledge and draw on disciplines such as mathematics, science, engineering, computing and art.
Using Design and Technology our pupils at St John’s learn how to take risks, becoming resourceful, innovative, enterprising and capable citizens. Through the evaluation of past and present design and technology, they develop a critical understanding of its impact on daily life and the wider world. High quality Design and Technology education at St John’s will ultimately make an essential contribution to the creativity, culture, wealth and well-being of the nation.
Our Design and Technology curriculum is designed to engage and interest our pupils by posing problems that are grounded in real life situations. We understand that our pupils learn best by applying the skills and knowledge they have been taught to solve a problem. The ongoing evaluation process is vital to understanding how and why a product or design element has been successful or not. The evidence from the evaluation process is then used to inform learning e.g. how to improve a product or to develop a technique.
In an ever changing world it is important that our pupils understand the need for sustainable products and that they have a firm knowledge of where ethically sourced materials come from and the environmental impact they have. Our pupils will be exposed to these areas continuously throughout school and will have a clear understanding of how we can reduce, reuse and recycle.
Christian Values, Cultural Capital and Pupil Premium enhancements
Oracy skills are cultivated throughout the Design and Technology curriculum with opportunities to discuss ideas, progress and evaluations. These discussions are valuable to all learners as it encourages the sharing of thoughts and reasoning, aiding the design process. Our pupils are taught the correct terminology and understand and use the design and technology vocabulary accurately.
Our pupils benefit from the wide range of visits and experiences that show them how Design and Technology is interwoven into many different aspects whether it be baking bread or exploring how textile mills worked in the past and in the present day.
The specific skills and knowledge taught in Design and Technology are detailed in our Skill Progression and Knowledge Progression documents. If you wish to see these, please ask your child's class teacher.
