At Hungerford Primary Academy, we believe Design and Technology is an inspiring, rigorous and practical subject. Using creativity and imagination, 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. They acquire a broad range of subject knowledge and draw on disciplines such as mathematics, science, engineering, computing and art. Pupils 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 makes an essential contribution to the creativity, culture, wealth and well-being of the nation.
Through Design and Technology, we aim to ensure that all pupils:
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
- Understand and apply the principles of nutrition and learn how to cook
Foundation Stage
Teaching and learning of Design and Technology follows the guidance set out in the Early Years Foundation Stage Development Matters. Understanding of the World is a specific area of learning and has three aspects: People and Communities, The World, and Technology. The children have opportunities to participate in adult-led and child initiated structured play activities to develop their understanding. Teaching staff also ensure that meaningful cross-curricular links are made with specific areas of learning within other core and foundation subjects.
This can be broken down into 3 distinct stages.
1. Brief
Children are presented with a problem that needs to be overcome or a task with a desired outcome. They will explore ideas and different ways of achieving their goal before explaining the aim of the project and outlining success criteria to test their ‘product’ against. Using these, they will write a design brief to outline what they intend to do.
2. Research
Children use research and develop design criteria to inform the design of innovative, functional, appealing products, that are fit for purpose and aimed at particular individuals or groups.
Children will consider:
- Who their ‘product’ is being designed for
- What needs that person has
During this stage, children will also:
- Investigate and analyse a range of existing products
- Understand how key events and individuals in design and technology have helped shape the world
3. Concept
Children will generate, develop, model and communicate ideas through discussion, annotated sketches, cross-sectional and exploded diagrams, prototypes, pattern pieces and computer-aided design.
To do this, children consider the following aspects:
- Which materials/components/ingredients should be used
- How much of any material/component/ingredient will be needed (providing measurements on designs/recipes)
- Which tools/equipment will be needed
This can be broken down into 3 distinct stages.
1. Brief
Children are presented with a problem that needs to be overcome or a task with a desired outcome. They will explore ideas and different ways of achieving their goal before explaining the aim of the project and outlining success criteria to test their ‘product’ against. Using these, they will write a design brief to outline what they intend to do.
2. Research
Children use research and develop design criteria to inform the design of innovative, functional, appealing products, that are fit for purpose and aimed at particular individuals or groups.
Children will consider:
- Who their ‘product’ is being designed for
- What needs that person has
During this stage, children will also:
- Investigate and analyse a range of existing products
- Understand how key events and individuals in design and technology have helped shape the world
3. Concept
Children will generate, develop, model and communicate ideas through discussion, annotated sketches, cross-sectional and exploded diagrams, prototypes, pattern pieces and computer-aided design.
To do this, children consider the following aspects:
- Which materials/components/ingredients should be used
- How much of any material/component/ingredient will be needed (providing measurements on designs/recipes)
- Which tools/equipment will be needed
Children create their ‘product’ to fulfil the brief by:
- Selecting from and using a wide range of tools and equipment to perform practical tasks (for example, cutting, shaping, joining and finishing), accurately
- Selecting from and using a wider range of materials, components and ingredients, according to their functional properties and aesthetic qualities
During this stage, children will demonstrate their technical knowledge and knowledge of food and nutrition, such as:
- Exploring and understanding how to strengthen, stiffen and reinforce more complex structures
- Exploring, understanding and using mechanical systems in their products [for example, gears, pulleys, cams, levers and linkages]
- Exploring, understanding and using electrical systems in their products [for example, series circuits incorporating switches, bulbs, buzzers and motors]
- Exploring and understanding how to use computing to program, monitor and control their products
- Exploring and understanding the principles of a healthy and varied diet
- Preparing and cooking a range of dishes using a variety of techniques
- Understanding where and how a variety of ingredients are grown, reared, caught and processed
Children will evaluate and, where possible, test their ideas and ‘products’ against their own design criteria and consider the views of others to improve their work. This allows them to create new designs that improve upon the ‘products’ that were made.
Through engaging with the Design and Technology curriculum at Hungerford Primary Academy, children will develop essential skills for their future. They will learn:
To critically analyse situations and problems and consider their options before moving forward
To consider the needs of others, as well as their own, and evaluate the best ways to meet these
- To be creative and resilient in their approach to solving problems
- To communicate and work as part of a successful team
- To critique, test and evaluate their own and others’ ideas and products
- To understand the principles of nutrition and how to cook
- To technical and practical expertise needed to perform everyday tasks confidently
- To participate successfully in an increasingly technological world
Design and Technology itself is dedicated to inclusivity. It is a subject that encourages children to consider the needs of everybody and design solutions to problems that cater for the widest range of people. It is through Design and technology that modern solutions to ensuring inclusion are being developed.
In line with this, we recognise the importance of providing effective learning opportunities for all pupils to achieve within Design and Technology. We aim to set suitable learning challenges, respond to pupil’s diverse learning needs, and overcome potential barriers to learning for individuals and groups of pupils, in accordance with Hungerford Primary Academy’s inclusion policy.