Implementation
How do we teach Design and technology?
The Design and technology National curriculum outlines the three main stages of the design process: design, make and evaluate. Each stage of the design process is underpinned by technical knowledge which encompasses the contextual, historical and technical understanding required for each strand. Cooking and nutrition* has a separate section, with a focus on specific principles, skills and techniques in food, including where food comes form, diet and seasonality.
The National curriculum organises the Design and technology attainment targets under five subheadings or strands:
Kapow Primary’s Design and technology scheme has a clear progression of skills and knowledge within these five strands across each year group.
Our school curriculum overview is reviewed every year to cater specifically for the mixed age classes that we have changing year on year. We strive to cover all National curriculum attainment targets as well as each of the five strands.
The children are taught D&T during a weekly lesson following the Kapow Scheme. Staff have flexibility to choose an Art & Design or Design and Technology topic which they feel best fits the rest of their curriculum. This is shown in the Long Term Plan for 2021-22 academic year. Differentiation is available in all lessons to ensure that all children can access and above all enjoy their D&T lessons; providing opportunities to stretch pupils' learning are also available where required. Knowledge organisers for each unit support pupils in building a foundation of factual knowledge by encouraging recall of key facts and vocabulary.
Our school progression of knowledge and skills shows what is taught within each year group and how these skills develop to ensure that attainment targets are securely met by the end of each key stage.
Through Kapow Primary’s Design and technology scheme, pupils respond to design briefs and scenarios that require consideration of the needs of others, developing skills in six areas:
Each of our key areas follows a design process (design, make and evaluate) and has a particular theme and focus from the technical knowledge or cooking and nutrition section of the curriculum. The Kapow Primary scheme is a spiral curriculum, with key areas revisited again and again with increasing complexity, allowing pupils to revisit and build on their previous learning.
Lessons incorporate a range of teaching strategies from independent tasks, paired and group work including practical hands-on, computer-based and inventive tasks. This variety means that lessons are engaging and appeal to those with a variety of learning styles. Differentiated guidance is available for every lesson to ensure that lessons can be accessed by all pupils’ and opportunities to stretch pupils learning are available when required.
At Bridekirk Dovenby CE Primary School, children in Early Years and Key Stage One produce a collaborative portfolio book alongside their teacher, who models working in this way.
In Lower Key Stage Two, children have their own portfolio. Input into their portfolios is ‘taught’ or guided by teachers following CPD led by the Design and technology Leader.
In Upper Key Stage Two, children are encouraged to develop their own style for producing portfolio pages linked to the scheme lessons in preparation for Key Stage Three.
CPD
Strong subject knowledge is vital for staff to be able to deliver a highly effective and robust Design and technology curriculum. Each unit of lessons includes multiple teacher videos to develop subject knowledge and support ongoing CPD. Kapow has been created with the understanding that many teachers do not feel confident delivering the full Design and technology curriculum and every effort has been make to ensure that they feel supported to deliver lessons of high standard that ensure pupils progression.
Staff are also encouraged to enrol in their own training through the National College. Staff meetings are also used to keep staff up to date and ensure there are no gaps in knowledge. Resources
RESCOURCES
School has a good selection of resources available for the teaching of art and design. We also have an audit system where staff are able to order any specific items they may need.