Design and Technology

We are Inventors

Design and Technology Curriculum Statement

Intent

At Mawnan School we endeavor to teach Design and Technology as a practical, exciting, creative subject that brings together a cross curricular range of subjects to solve problems and create satisfying and often imaginative projects and products. Opportunities for working independently and collaboratively encourages team work within a variety of contexts and is an excellent vehicle for children to explore their own  values and needs and that of others or in fact a particular audience. Children are supported to analyse the effectiveness of past and present designs therefore enabling them to become innovative risk takers when designing their own products.

Cooking is an important element of this subject and the vital importance of understanding a balanced diet and healthy plate of food underpins all learning. Life skills ranging from handling kitchen equipment, planning and following heathy recipes, exploring exciting ingredients and understanding where food comes from equips our children for creativity and pleasure when cooking and enjoying food.    

Implementation

 The key skills and knowledge for design and technology have been mapped from EYFS to KS2 ensuring effective progression and coverage. This is scaffolded by over-arching “Journeys” which may contain the following structure:

Designing

  • By understanding contexts, users and purposes
  • Generating, developing, modelling and communicating ideas

Making

  • Planning
  • Learning Practical skills and techniques

Evaluating

  • Own ideas and products
  • Existing products
  • Key events and individuals

Technical Knowledge

  • Making products work

Cooking and Nutrition

  • Where food comes from
  • Food preparation, cooking and nutrition

Our theme based curriculum creates exciting opportunities for the learning of D&T to be topic based and therefore exciting, diverse and meaningful. Learning often is taught in a block to provide sufficient time, focus and skill development to fully research, develop and evaluate a project.

Impact

 Mawnan School ensures children are confident and capable to critique established and famous designs, plan, develop, evaluate and improve a product and have the skills needed to creatively and independently build a range of high quality prototypes with specific purposes for a wide range of users.

Our children are equipped with skills and enthused by the age appropriate knowledge of how to hygienically prepare and cook a range of  healthy meals and have a good understanding of the importance of a balanced diet.

As our children progress throughout the school they become resourceful, innovative creative learners who naturally apply their creative, problem solving, making, analysis and reflection skills to produce successful products that they are proud of and can articulate why. Thus our pupils are fully equipped with the knowledge and skills they need when they leave us to continue their learning journeys in KS3 and beyond.