Design Technology – Levens CE School

Design Technology

Intent

At Levens CE School, the Design and Technology curriculum provides students with the skills they need to shape the world around them. Students develop the creative, technical and practical expertise needed to participate successfully in an increasingly technological world. Creativity and innovative thinking are encouraged as students create designs which are considerate of form, function and inclusivity. Design and Technology is particularly relevant to the school’s local context as a rural school, where students develop their understanding of food from production to preparation.

Implementation

In the Early Years, the key skills for Design & Technology success begin to be developed. Imaginative play is encouraged using open-ended and familiar resources; in nursery, students develop their design ideas by joining materials using different techniques such as paper clips, glue and tape. This is later consolidated as children are supported to build increasingly complex and detailed recreations of objects and places. Emphasis is placed on using resources from the natural world, as well as finding new and innovative second uses for common items.

As students move into Key Stage One and Two, they continue to develop their abilities in using a wide range of tools and techniques, as well as beginning to incorporate mechanisms, electrical systems and digital technologies into their projects. Students will be guided through the iterative process of design, prototyping, making and refining, growing their independence in project management. They are encouraged to seek feedback from a wide range of people so that their products reflect the needs of a diverse community. Failure is seen as a core part of the design process, and students are supported to learn from their mistakes.

Cooking and nutrition education runs alongside the Design and Technology programme, beginning in the Early Years where students make their own malleable materials each week; learn how to use utensils and follow instructions with a growing sense of independence. As students progress, they create increasingly complex meals, developing their technique alongside their ability to make decisions about nutrition, sustainability and preference.

Impact

Students leave Levens CE School with the core knowledge, skills and abilities they need to shape the world around them. They have an interest in their environment, both natural and manufactured, and the desire to design, build and create in order to make improvements for themselves and others. They will have the foundational elements of life skills, such as cooking, designing and creating that they need to continue to develop their independence and become resourceful, innovative, enterprising and capable citizens.