Purpose of Study

Design Technology requires pupils to apply knowledge and skills to solve practical problems.  It involves identifying needs, generating design ideas, planning, making and appraising.  It spans the curriculum and supports work in other subjects.  Through well planned tasks, which allow the children to achieve the targets within familiar contexts,  pupils learn how to take risks and become resourceful, innovative, enterprising and capable citizens. These are essential skills for our pupils to develop as they prepare to take their place as adults in society.

Aims

The National Curriculum for design and technology aims to ensure that all pupils:

• 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
• 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.

Key Stage 1

When designing and making, pupils should be taught to: 

Design 

• design purposeful, functional, appealing products for themselves and other users based on design criteria 
• generate, develop, model and communicate their ideas through talking, drawing, templates, mock-ups and, where appropriate, information and communication technology 

Make 

• select from and use a range of tools and equipment to perform practical tasks [for example, cutting, shaping, joining and finishing] 
• select from and use a wide range of materials and components, including construction materials, textiles and ingredients, according to their characteristics 

Evaluate 

• explore and evaluate a range of existing products 
• evaluate their ideas and products against design criteria 

Technical knowledge 

• build structures, exploring how they can be made stronger, stiffer and more stable 
• explore and use mechanisms [for example, levers, sliders, wheels and axles], in their products

Key Stage 2

When designing and making, pupils should be taught to: 

Design 

• use research and develop design criteria to inform the design of innovative, functional, appealing products that are fit for purpose, aimed at particular individuals or groups 
• generate, develop, model and communicate their ideas through discussion, annotated sketches, cross-sectional and exploded diagrams, prototypes, pattern pieces and computer-aided design 
• 
  Make 
• select from and use a wider range of tools and equipment to perform practical tasks [for example, cutting, shaping, joining and finishing], accurately 
• select from and use a wider range of materials and components, including construction materials, textiles and ingredients, according to their functional properties and aesthetic qualities 

Evaluate 

• investigate and analyse a range of existing products 
• evaluate their ideas and products against their own design criteria and consider the views of others to improve their work 
• understand how key events and individuals in design and technology have helped shape the world 

Technical knowledge 

• apply their understanding of how to strengthen, stiffen and reinforce more complex structures 
• understand and use mechanical systems in their products [for example, gears, pulleys, cams, levers and linkages] 
• understand and use electrical systems in their products [for example, series circuits incorporating switches, bulbs, buzzers and motors] 
• apply their understanding of computing to program, monitor and control their products.