Design and Technology
Design and Technology
Subject Intent
By the time they leave Northgate, we aim for our children to;
be equipped with the knowledge, skills and attitudes they need to become successful, innovative young designers and makers. The children will be able use creative thinking to design for a defined purpose and create a tangible outcome. Through the study of DT, children will learn how to take risks, become resourceful and develop the skills needed to engage in the process of designing and making.
Design and Technology at Northgate provides children with the opportunity to use creativity, problem solving and critical thinking to design, create and evaluate products for a variety of purposes.
We believe that design and technology is an inspiring, rigorous and practical subject. Using creativity and imagination, pupils design and make products that solve real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts, considering their own and others’ needs, wants and values. We want all pupils to acquire a broad range of subject knowledge and draw on disciplines such as mathematics, science, engineering, computing and art.
Pupils learn how to take risks, becoming resourceful, innovative, enterprising and capable citizens. Through the evaluation of past and present design and technology, they develop a critical understanding of its impact on daily life and the wider world. High-quality design and technology education makes an essential contribution to the creativity, culture, wealth and well-being of the nation.
Implementation
At Northgate, we use the Futura Curriculum. Children’s discovery of world of Design begins in the Early Years where they are provided with regular opportunities to safely use and explore a variety of materials, tools and techniques, experimenting with colour, design, texture, form and function. Children are encouraged to be imaginative and use what they have learnt about media and materials to represent their own ideas, thoughts and feelings in original ways through design and technology.
Throughout Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2, Design and Technology education helps to develop children’s skills through collaborative working and problem-solving, and knowledge in design, materials, structures, mechanisms and electrical control. At Northgate, all pupils are encouraged to be creative and innovative – they are actively encouraged to think about important issues such as sustainability and enterprise.
Teachers ensure these three activities are combined in sequence when planning a Design and Technology project. Design and Technology lessons are taught with a mixture of short, focused tasks and a longer block of time to allow children to become immersed in the making and evaluation of their products.
SCHOOL SNAPSHOT
NORTHGATE PRIMARY SCHOOL
A creative and innovative place of learning.
