At St Joseph’s we believe that Design and Technology should be an important part of the curriculum. It allows children the opportunity to both think critically about problem solving in real world examples, and enhances the children’s understanding across other areas of the curriculum, for example Maths, Science, History and Geography. 

We believe that children deserve the opportunity to use their creativity and imagination and that they should have exposure to a range of skills that will benefit them in their future lives.

The curriculum has been mapped across the school to ensure that children are exposed to a range of different skills, and, that where skills are revisited, that there is real progression evident.

A skills progression document is used to ensure children produce work that is ARE or greater with cross moderation taking place in each year group.

When designing and making, the children are taught using the Design and Technology cycle:

Analysis - look at already existing products to discuss their strengths and weaknesses.

Design - using research to inform the design of innovative, functional, appealing products that are fit for purpose, aimed at particular individuals or groups.

Make - children are taught the skills and best practice using a range of tools and equipment (for example cutting, shaping, joining and finishing) accurately. They are also taught about a wider range of materials and components, including construction materials, textiles and ingredients, according to their functional properties and aesthetic qualities.

Evaluate - looking   critically at their product - evaluate their ideas and products against their own design criteria and consider the views of others to improve their work.

Work is recorded in the children’s sketch books so that children can use this as a growing bank of ideas of skills and designs.

We ensure the children:

• 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 and 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. Children will design and make a range of products.
• A good quality finish will be expected in all design and activities made appropriate to the age and ability of the child
• 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. High-quality design and technology education makes an essential contribution to the creativity, culture, wealth and well-being of the nation.