Design and Technology

At Cathedral School, Design and Technology is a subject which both teachers and children are passionate about and this is reflected in the outstanding skills shown from units of work. Across the school, this subject encourages children to plan and design their work carefully which allows them to produce work which they are proud of.

Design and Technology is a subject children look forward to celebrating and this takes place during Autumn term each year. Staff dedicate a week to help children plan, design and evaluate a piece of work based on a theme. This year we had a great success as each class produced a form of ‘transport’ which included hot air balloons, London buses, tubes and boats. Additionally, during this week, a DT Exhibition is put on for parents to view the outstanding work produced by pupils. Photographs of this week are uploaded onto class blogs and can also be found on the school website.

Children have been able to engage in several investigations involving DT to help them build and develop their problem solving, designing and evaluation skills. Units are planned in detail and DT is linked to other subjects where possible, with several classes producing a DT based outcome, such as making polar habitats in year 1, linking geography and DT.

DT is assessed throughout the year by teachers and leaders to monitor progress and plan for next steps. Units are carefully planned with the National Curriculum guidelines in place to ensure complete coverage.

Design and technology is an inspiring, rigorous and practical subject. Using creativity and imagination, pupils design and make products that solve real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts, considering their own and others’ needs, wants and values. They acquire a broad range of subject knowledge and draw on disciplines such as mathematics, science, engineering, computing and art. Pupils 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.

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.