Design and Technology gives children the opportunity to develop skills, knowledge and understanding of designing and making functional products.  At Twickenham Primary Academy, we believe it is essential to nurture creativity and innovation through design, and by exploring the world in which we all work and live. 

Design and Technology education involves two important elements - learning about the designed and made world and how things work, and learning to design and make functional products for particular purposes and users. 

From early years through to Year 6, children acquire and apply their knowledge and understanding of materials and components, mechanisms and control systems, structures, existing products, quality and health and safety. 

We value Design and Technology as an important part of the children’s entitlement to a broad and balanced curriculum. DT provides children with the opportunity to develop and extend their skills and knowledge, and an opportunity to express their individual interests, thoughts and ideas.

The skills and knowledge that the children will learn throughout each DT topic are mapped across each year group, beginning in Early Years, and are progressive throughout the school. 

Intent

Design and Technology is an inspiring, practical subject.  Design and Technology encourages children to think and intervene creatively to solve problems both as individuals and as members of a team.  At TPA, we encourage children to use their creativity to design and make products that solve real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts, considering their own and others’ needs, wants and values.  We aim to, wherever possible, link work to other disciplines such as mathematics, science, engineering, computing and art.  The children are also given opportunities to reflect upon and evaluate past and present design technology, its uses and it effectiveness and are encouraged to become innovators and risk takers. During 2022-2023, we developed a new DT curriculum to ensure clear progression from EYFS to Y6.

Implementation 

Our whole curriculum is shaped by our school vision: ambitious for all.  We teach the National Curriuclum, supported by a clear skills and knowledge progression.  This ensures that skills and knowledge are built on year on year and sequenced appropriately to maximise learning for all children.  All teaching of DT should follow the design, make and evaluate cycle.  Each stage should be rooted in technical knowledge.  The design process should be rooted in real life, relevant contexts to give meaning to learning.  While making, children should be given choice and a range of tools to select from. When evaluating, children will be evaluating their products against the given design criteria.

Impact
Through our DT curriculum, children 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. We ask key questions at the start and end of each unit to unpick their understanding of key vocab, skills and knowledge. Our children enjoy DT lessons and enjoy creating purposeful and effective final pieces. For example: delicious Spanish Tortilla in year 4; moving Mars Rovers in Year 5 and a range of bread products in Year 6.