Intent

At The Divine Mercy, we value Design and Technology (DT) as an important part of our pupils entitlement to a broad and balanced curriculum. We aim to inspire and challenge our pupils by equipping them with the knowledge, understanding and skills to experiment, invent and create their own works of art, craft and design. Our aim is to prepare pupils to deal with tomorrow's rapidly changing world as DT encourages pupils to take risks, become resourceful, creative, and capable citizens.

Our curriculum aims:

DT is taught in all year groups through at least one topic per term, which includes one topic relating to food. 

The national curriculum for Design and Technology aims to ensure that all pupils:

    1. develop the creative, technical and practical expertise needed to perform everyday tasks confidently and           to participate successfully in an increasingly technological world.

    2. 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

    3. critique, evaluate and test their ideas and products and the work of others

    4. understand and apply the principles of nutrition and learn how to cook.

  Our intention is to ensure that all pupils are being given the opportunities to:

  1.Use creativity and imagination, and design and make products that solve real and relevant problems within a        variety of contexts which considers their own and others’ needs, wants and values. 

  2. Become independent, creative problem solvers and thinkers as individuals and part of a team. 

  3. Identify needs and respond to them by developing a range of ideas, products and systems. 

  4.Evaluate past and present design and technology products, so they can develop a critical understanding of its      impact on daily life and the wider world.

Implementation

The teaching and implementation of the DT Curriculum is based on the National Curriculum and supported by weaving, knowledge, skills and understanding into the curriculum, ensuring a well structured approach to this creative subject. The skills and knowledge that pupils will develop throughout each topic are mapped across each year group and throughout the school to ensure progression. There is an emphasis on design, make and evaluate so that pupils understand the design process. Pupils are given opportunities to express their creative imagination, as well as practise and develop the different skills of design: textiles, building structures, mechanisms and cooking and nutrition.

The teaching of DT across the school follows the National Curriculum through the use of Design and Technology Association's 'Projects On A Page.’ Pupils design products with a purpose in mind and an intended user of the products. Food technology is implemented across the school with pupils developing an understanding of where food comes from, the importance of a varied and healthy diet and how to prepare for this. DT lessons are taught as a DT Day or over a sequence of lessons.

Impact 

Pupils develop the creative, technical and practical expertise needed to perform everyday tasks confidently and to participate successfully in an increasingly technological world. Pupils are given the opportunity to build and apply a repertoire of knowledge, understanding and skills in order to design and make high-quality prototypes and products (appropriate to their age and ability) for a wide range of users and critique. They have oportunities to evaluate and test their ideas and products and the work of others. They also will be given experiences to develop their their understanding of how to apply the principles of nutrition and learn how to cook. 

Throughout these learning experiences pupils will learn how to take risks, become resourceful, and develop a critical understanding of DT and its impact on daily life and the wider world and their own contribution to the creativity, culture, wealth and well-being of the wider community.