Intent

At Field Lane, our Design and Technology (D&T) curriculum aims to inspire and empower students from Early Years through to Year 6 to think creatively and work both independently and collaboratively 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. Aligned with our S.T.A.R. values—Strength, Togetherness, Aspirations, and Responsibility—our D&T education plays a vital role in fostering students' creativity and cultural awareness. 

Our goal is to integrate D&T with other disciplines such as mathematics, science,  computing, and art to provide holistic learning experiences, enabling students to analyse and assess past and current designs effectively. Ultimately, we aim to inspire students to become innovative, entrepreneurial individuals and future designers who are willing to take risks and learn from their endeavours

“If you are not prepared to be wrong, you will never come up with anything original.” Sir Ken Robinson

Implementation

In EYFS, children engage in expressive arts by selecting tools and techniques to mould, assemble, and join materials. Through hands-on experiences, they investigate, observe, problem-solve, and think critically, fostering their inherent creativity and understanding of the possibilities and limitations of different materials. Daily opportunities for exploration, design, and construction empower children to explore their environment within a nurturing setting whilst practitioners encourage children to talk about why they have made their decisions as they design and create.

Our D&T curriculum in KS1 and KS2 draws guidance from the National Curriculum and the DT Association’s Projects on a Page to provide a structured and progressive learning journey throughout key stages. Concepts and skills are taught in sequenced units to facilitate progress over a two year cycle. Lessons are taught discreetly, and opportunities to refine skills are provided during Smart Time sessions. 

Each topic is centred around a guiding question, prompting students to reflect on their discoveries and apply their knowledge to devise inventive solutions. Students maintain sketchbooks to capture ideas and designs, documenting their process alongside photos and assessments of their final creations. They are encouraged to design and construct products with a focus on functionality, purpose, and target audience, while also considering the societal and environmental impacts of their designs. Emphasis is placed on cultivating resilience and social consciousness in alignment with our school’s STAR Values.

During the design and creation process, students:

Design: Utilise research to create innovative, functional, and visually appealing products; convey ideas through various mediums, including sketches, prototypes, and computer-aided design.

Make : Choose and utilise a variety of tools and materials accurately; factor in functional aspects, aesthetic characteristics, and audience preferences.

Evaluate: Analyse existing products; critique their own designs based on specific criteria and feedback; grasp the historical and cultural influence of design technology.

Technical knowledge: Strengthen, support, and enhance structures; employ mechanical and electrical systems; harness computing to program and control products; comprehend food processing and cooking techniques.

Our curriculum incorporates opportunities for students to evaluate their creations using clear criteria, employing an assortment of materials and tools. Topics are designed to be pertinent, captivating, and inclusive, catering for diverse needs.

Impact

We gauge the impact of our D&T curriculum by assessing students' proficiency in designing, creating, evaluating, and refining their work. We assess students on their ability to:

- Develop the creative, technical, and practical skills requisite for everyday tasks and engagement in a technological landscape.

- Develop and employ knowledge and skills to devise and produce high-quality prototypes and products for diverse users.

- Appraise and test their concepts and products, as well as the work of their peers.

- Understand and apply principles of nutrition and learn how to cook

Students will make and design a variety of products with a focus on quality and finish appropriate for their developmental stage. Ideas and designs are collected in the child’s sketchbook alongside a photograph and evaluation of the end product. 

Our D&T curriculum is designed to instil a passion for design and creation, nurturing students to become confident and proficient innovators prepared to tackle future challenges.