DT
DT at Prince Rock
Intent
Here at Prince Rock, we aim to inspire our children to be the engineers of the future. Design Technology (DT) forms an important part of the curriculum and we strongly believe that DT stimulates creativity and imagination. At Prince Rock, the children are given opportunities to do this through problem solving and the production of their own quality products. At our school, DT is taught as an individual subject as well as incorporated into other curriculum lessons where appropriate. We believe that it is important that they are able to apply these skills to a wider world context such as engineering or building and architecture. Children are taught that the buildings and bridges around them were built with the skills they are taught in school and that it is possible for them to be able to achieve this in the future if it interests them. With a combination of high quality teaching using the progression of skills, we ensure that all children are able to access the curriculum.
Below you will find an overview of the skills and knowledge that your children will learn in each of the Key Stages.
Implementation
EYFS
Within the EYFS, DT is represented through Expressive Arts and Design (both Creating with Materials' and 'Being Imaginative and Expressive'). These two areas of learning overlap and feed into each other. Children will look closely at how things work, why things happen and how they can work together to solve problems. They learn to use different materials and build on their understanding through exploring and playing with a wide range of materials. EAD is an important outlet for imagination, thoughts and ideas but also links closely to other areas of the curriculum. Inspiring children's imagination is an integral part of our EYFS practice at Prince Rock.
Key Stage One
In Key Stage 1 the children will learn to design purposeful, functional and appealing products that are based on design criteria. They will learn how to join materials and develop the use of tools to cut, shape, join and finish. They will learn to evaluate products and suggest how it could be improved to be stronger, stiffer and more stable. They will learn to cook simple food with an emphasis on savoury dishes.
Key Stage Two
In Key Stage 2 the children will learn to design purposeful products that are aimed at particular individuals or groups. They will develop their ideas through detailed planning, evaluating product design, observational drawings and making prototypes. They will learn how to use different joining techniques. They will make products and learn how to use a wide variety of tools, equipment, materials and components. They will learn how to include mechanical, electrical and computer control into products. They will learn to design and cook food with an emphasis on savoury dishes.
At Prince Rock, our objective is that all our children develop a clear knowledge and understanding of what design and technology is. We aim to teach a range of skills that will equip children to design and make their make own products, which can then be applied to a wider world context.
High quality teaching, focusing on the progression of skills, ensures this knowledge is embedded throughout the school. Furthermore, the design, make, evaluate process enables to children to have a deep understanding of how ideas and skills combine to make a final product.
Within our design and technology curriculum disadvantaged groups, as well as SEND and EAL children, can access the curriculum through the small steps progression of skills.
At Prince Rock, we work with our community too. We encourage local craftspeople to come into school and run workshops for our children. Thrussel and Thrussel are local ironmongers and worked with our children on designing a bench which is displayed in the grounds of Saltram House. We have also worked with the Institute of Engineering who run workshops about design in the community. We have also worked with them to produce a video which celebrated 400 years of engineering in Plymouth. Our collaborations make important links for the children. It enables them to see, and to sample, some of the career opportunities that exist – should they want them.
Impact
Children really enjoy their DT lessons at our school. They are able to discuss the progression of a unit and can explain what is done in each part of the process. Our DT curriculum provides them with the knowledge and skills that will support them in KS3 and further on in the future.
Children’s work is collated into an A4 workbook alongside other foundation subjects and kept in each class. This records the details of their research, skill development, planning, making and evaluating. Each lesson also includes retrieval quizzes which link to their prior learning of DT in previous units and years, which alongside quality and responsive teaching, supports the progression of skills and understanding of the subject. Photographs are taken of each child’s final resulting product and kept as a record in this book too. Work in these books is monitored by the DT lead once a term.
In addition to monitoring the book outcomes of the children, the DT lead monitors classroom planning once every term. Follow up advice is given to support staff where needed. There is also a document which gives guidance to teachers to assess whether children are meeting, working towards or exceeding age-related expectations.
DT Matrix
Overall, it is our intention to help our students develop the creative, technical and practical experience/skills they need to enable them to be successful in our ever-changing, technological world. The skills they learn with us, they will build on as they go through life and, should they want to, we hope these skills will enable them to become the designers of the future. We do this in many ways: art and DT clubs, community projects and community groups.
Food and Nutrition
In the Spring term, the children complete their Food and Nutrition unit where they follow the progression of Research, Skill, Plan, Create and Evaluate and delve deeper into the understanding of the ingredients and methods they will be using.
In the Autumn and Summer term , the children create a variety of dishes with our Food Technician, Shane, which links to their history topic. This enables them to develop their culinary skills, understanding of cultures and health and safety. The children love the opportunity to look at recipes and create their own versions (with the support of Shane) while ensuring they keep themselves safe when handling equipment.
Progression of Skills for Food and Nutrition
Enrichment
Visit from an engineer
The children were very excited to have Emma in to school to explain how she used the skills she had learnt from Design Technology lessons and apply them to her daily job as an engineer. She spoke about how being able to solve problems and being determined has helped her to become who she is today in her career.
Cooking with Dads
Dads of pupils at Prince Rock have been practicing their basic cooking skills along with their children to create some wonderful dishes with the help from members of staff.
Look out soon for our wonderful updates from our NEW DT Club!