Design & Technology at Broadoak
Our Aims
“Design and Technology prepares pupils to participate in tomorrow’s rapidly changing technologies. They learn to think and intervene creatively to improve quality of life. The subject calls for pupils to become autonomous and creative problem solvers, as individuals and members of a team. They combine practical skills with an understanding of aesthetics, social and environmental issues, function and industrial practices. As they do so, they reflect on and evaluate present and past design and technology, its uses and effects.” QCA
DT promotes the activities of:
- Textiles
- Food Technology
- Structures
- Mechanisms – pushes, pulls, levers
- Electrical controls
The Teaching of Design and Technology
Pupils will be taught
Design – review a design and communicate ideas.
Make– use a range of tools and equipment to perform practical tasks (cutting, shaping, joining)
Evaluate– look at an existing range of products and then evaluate ideas and product.
Technical Knowledge – build structures, explore stronger, stiffer and stable structures ; investigate and use mechanisms in production.
D&T in Early Years
Early Years interact with the subject daily with construction and modelling areas in addition to specific projects throughout the year.
D&T in Key Stage One
KS1 and KS2 undertake three set DT projects across the year with additional exposure to the subject through the rest of the curriculum such as Numeracy through measuring and assembling materials and components; ICT by using a wide range of ICT to communicate and handle information, design, develop, explore and evaluate models and art through investigating colour, shape, texture and form.
D&T in Key Stage Two
The KS2 D&T projects are delivered in a purposeful, cross-curricular way. For example year five make an automaton exploring cam mechanisms as part of their Literacy work on the text Hugo. Year four make moving books with a tudor theme and year three design Roman coin holders during their study of the Romans.