At Wisewood Primary School, we value Design and Technology as an important part of the children’s entitlement to a rich, broad and balanced curriculum.
 

Design and Technology embodies some of the highest forms of human creativity and we intend for the children of Wisewood Primary School to believe in their own creative and innovative sparks and the journey it can take them on.  A high-quality Design and Technology education should engage, inspire and challenge pupils, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to experiment, invent and create their own works of art, craft and design.

As pupils progress, they will learn how Design and Technology both reflect and shape our history, and contribute to the culture, creativity and wealth of our nation. Our children can aspire to become the creators, designers and innovators of the future.

Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum Content

• Pupils explore and use a variety of media and materials through a combination of child initiated and adult directed activities. They have opportunities to learn to:

• Explore the textures, movement, feel and look of different media and materials.
• Respond to a range of media and materials, develop their understanding of them in order to manipulate and create different effects.
• Use different media and materials to express their own ideas.
• Explore colour and use colour for a particular purpose.
• Develop skills to use simple tools and techniques competently and appropriately.
• Select appropriate media and techniques and adapt their work where necessary.

Key stage 1 Curriculum Content

Through a variety of creative and practical activities, pupils will be taught the knowledge, understanding and skills needed to engage in designing and making:

Design

• Design purposeful, functional, appealing products for themselves and other users based on design criteria.
• Generate, develop, model and communicate their ideas through talking, drawing, templates, mock-ups and, where appropriate, information and communication technology.

Make

• Select from and use a range of tools and equipment to perform practical tasks [for example, cutting, shaping, joining and finishing].
• Select from and use a wide range of materials and components, including construction materials, textiles and ingredients, according to their characteristics.
   

Evaluate

• Explore and evaluate a range of existing products.
• Evaluate their ideas and products against design criteria.

Technical knowledge

• Build structures, exploring how they can be made stronger, stiffer and more stable.
• Explore and use mechanisms [for example, levers, sliders, wheels and axles], in their products.

Key Stage 2 Curriculum Content

Pupils will expand on their learning from Key Stage 1:

Design

• To generate, develop, model and communicate their ideas through discussion, annotated sketches, cross-sectional and exploded diagrams, prototypes, pattern pieces and computer-aided design.

Evaluate

• To understand how key events and individuals in design and technology have helped shape the world.

Technical Knowledge

• To apply their understanding of how to strengthen, stiffen and reinforce more complex structures.
• To understand and use mechanical systems in their products [for example, gears, pulleys, cams, levers and linkages].
• To understand and use electrical systems in their products [for example, series circuits incorporating switches, bulbs, buzzers and motors].
• To apply their understanding of computing to program, monitor and control their products.