Design & Technology

   

Intention
 

Design and Technology at Star is inspiring, rigorous and practical, encouraging all pupils to think independently, solve problems and develop their creativity and imagination safely. We encourage pupils to have a growth mindset to design and make products that solve real and relevant global issues. Through a topic-based rights curriculum, we make links with other subjects for example, mathematics, history, science, the arts and computing. 

We want Star pupils to be resilient, demonstrating a ‘can-do’ attitude in their design and technology learning using coping strategies when the outcome of their products are not what they expected. 

Our pupils are given opportunities to be reflective, critical evaluators and are encouraged to design innovatively and take risks in their learning. We want children to enjoy the iterative process.

Implementation
 
  • Through a range of creative and practical activities, we give pupils core knowledge, support in practising skills and assistance to develop a deeper understanding of the design world and industries and refine their expertise. The D and T ‘Big Problems’ are aligned to our topic based curriculum, which is rich in fiction and non-fiction texts.
  • Using a research-based approach to planning and teaching, each unit follows a clear learning cycle: research, design, make and evaluate. In KS1 children build structures, exploring how they can be made stronger, stiffer and more stable coupled with using mechanisms such as levers, sliders, wheels and axles, in their products. 
  • In KS2 children apply their knowledge to more complex structures and use mechanical systems for example, gears, pulleys, cams and levers. In addition, our staff plan opportunities for all pupils to develop their technical knowledge of complex structures, mechanical and electrical systems as well as applying their understanding of computing to programme and control their products. 
  • Every child has the right to health (Article 24). Within cooking and nutrition children learn where food comes from and use the principles of a healthy and varied diet to prepare dishes. Deepening their knowledge of where and how a variety of ingredients are grown, reared, caught and processed.

Pupils research, and evaluate existing products, design using skills drawn from art. They make, exploring prototypes and testing ideas and evaluate their products against a design criteria. Their success is celebrated through assemblies, home-learning projects and having their work displayed.

Impact
 

As engineers, Star pupils learn to become risk takers, think sustainably, be innovative, enterprising and capable global citizens. Through planned and purposeful evaluation activities, pupils develop a critical understanding of design and technology, able to articulate the process using technical vocabulary and how it impacts on not only their daily life but the lives of others. 

The high-quality design and technology curriculum at Star means that all pupils make a significant contribution to the world of creativity, culture and enterprise promoting STEM subjects as future career pathways.
In The Classroom Progression Framework Key Vocabulary National Curriculum

Enrichment
  Children at Star Primary are given many enrichment opportunities as part of the wider curriculum, for example, after school clubs such as cooking, gardening, lego and a pupil led textile group, educational visits, visiting exciting places such as Colchester Castle and The London Transport Museum and finally residential camping trips where children have used natural resources to build large outdoor structures. We offer the children the experience of  learning from home with home learning projects which includes a joint project with the History team. This also allows parents to gain a deeper understanding of their children’s learning in D and T. We have links with secondary schools and outside providers where the children have the chance to develop cooking and nutrition skills and have an understanding of healthy eating and sustainable foods. Children with SEND begin to learn life skills and participate in cooking classes and nurture groups.  Children are trained to become design and technology leaders and have responsibilities relating to the subject across all year groups throughout the school.

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