Hambridge Primary School view Design and Technology as an inspiring, rigorous, and practical subject. Using creativity and imagination, pupils design and make products that solve real 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.

Our topics are informed by the National Curriculum and are sensitive to pupil’s interest and progression, The long-term plan is carefully devised to ensure that current learning is linked to previous learning.  In line with the National Curriculum 2014, the curriculum at Hambridge School aims 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.

Implementation:

Early Years

Our D.T. curriculum is carefully designed to build on the educational programmes set out in the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage and delivered in the early years to teach our reception pupils the Expressive Arts and Design areas of learning through a combination of child initiated and adult directed activities. D.T also makes a contribution to children’s learning across all the areas of learning. Pupils in our EYFS setting have varied experiences including:

 

• Use different media and materials to express their own ideas

• Use what they have learnt about media and materials in original ways, thinking about form, function and purpose

• Make plans and construct with a purpose in mind using a variety of resources

• Develop skills to use simple tools and techniques appropriately, effectively and safely

• Select appropriate resources for a product and adapt their work where necessary

Key Stage 1 and 2

At Hambridge Primary School our DT curriculum is carefully planned to cover the core of the National Curriculum. Due to our mixed year group classes, Hambridge follow a rolling plan for Design and Technology. Design and Technology is taught for a half term each term (3 projects a year). Where possible, cross curriculum links are utilised to underpin learning areas across the curriculum giving the children opportunities to learn life skills and apply skills to ‘hands on’ situations in a purposeful context. Key skills and key knowledge for DT has been mapped across the school to ensure progression between year groups. Opportunities are provided for prior knowledge and skills to be revisited. At Hambridge Primary School are DT is taught across these three areas:

• Textiles
• Structures, mechanisms and electrical systems
• Cooking and Nutrition

Each DT project will follow this structure when planning and teaching.

During each unit, books are regularly marked to ensure pupils are on track to meet the design brief and criteria. For our summative assessment, pupils complete a ‘Star’ evaluation which enables pupils to evaluate their project based in the six principles of DT (informed by the design criteria). Teachers will use this knowledge to make a judgement of whether the pupils have a secure understanding of the new knowledge and skills and update the assessment grid for foundation subjects. 

Hambridge Design and Technology Curriculum