Design & Technology

‘Mastering skills to adapt and design diverse solutions’

Intent - What does design and technology look like at Sandcross?

Our design and technology curriculum is designed to inspire children to explore, enquire and problem solve. Children will be encouraged to tackle relevant real world problems. They will work through a rigorous process of design, build, evaluate and adapt to ensure that their product is fit for purpose. At Sandcross, we encourage children to learn how to take risks, become resourceful and innovative designers. While developing their communication skills, children will build and apply their knowledge and will be able to offer respectful feedback to their peers to help improve the designs of others. Throughout their time at Sandcross, children will gain an understanding of some of the technological turning points in history and will celebrate the diversity of their designers. Children will gain independence and take responsibility for their designs to allow high quality products to be created.

Our design and technology curriculum is designed to challenge, develop and nurture the "Whole Child" with a mission of "Inspiring Lifelong Success". 

Implementation - So, how are we going to deliver this? 

Design technology is an integral part of our learning enquiries and is planned in each year group to develop breadth and depth in the progression of design technology skills. Children design products with a purpose in mind and an intended user of the product. Learning often links well with other key areas such as maths. 

In the EYFS, DT is taught using guidance from the Knowledge and Understanding of the World and Art and Design strands.  Lessons are planned to develop pupils' creativity and imagination within a variety of contexts, whilst teaching them a progression of skills.  

Pupils in Key Stages 1 and 2 experience a sequenced and varied curriculum using a wide range of materials and processes. Clear and appropriate cross curricular links are created whenever possible to help pupils learn key life skills. Pupils are exposed to hands-on situations where they are encouraged to make independent informed choices. 

Delivery of lessons will enable children to take a collaborative, enquiry based approach to their learning. They will be given an overarching learning question to introduce the topic which allows the children time to explore and problem solve. Following this inquiry question, children will show a clear following of the design process: researching, designing, making and evaluating products, as well as pupils developing their technical knowledge.