Intent

At Bishop Hooper School, children receive a design and technology curriculum which allows them to exercise and develop their creativity through designing and making. The children are taught to combine their designing and making skills with knowledge and understanding in order to design and make a product. Skills are taught progressively to ensure that all children are able to learn and practice in order to develop as they move through the school. Evaluation is an integral part of the design process and allows children to adapt and improve their product; this is a key skill which they will implement throughout their life. Design and Technology allows children to apply the knowledge and skills learned in other subjects across the curriculum, particularly Maths, Science and Art. Children's interests are captured through project design briefs, giving them purpose, motivation and meaning for their learning.

Implementation

Our whole curriculum is shaped by our school vision which aims to enable all children, regardless of background, ability, additional needs, to flourish and achieve their very best.

We teach the National Curriculum, supported by clear skills and knowledge progression. This ensures that skills and knowledge are built on year on year and sequenced appropriately to maximise learning for all children. DT is taught in alternate half-terms to Art. As members of the DT Association, our teachers have access to training, resources and specialist subject support for the four key skills areas that we teach.

All teaching of DT follows the design, make, evaluate cycle. Each stage is rooted in technical knowledge. The design process is rooted in real-life. Relevant contexts give meaning to learning and provide a purpose for the project. While making, children are given the choice of a range of tools to select from. To evaluate, children are encouraged to evaluate their own products against a design criteria. Each of these steps are rooted in technical knowledge and vocabulary. DT is taught to a high standard, where each of the stages are given equal importance.

The key skills we teach are:

• Sewing and Textiles
• Cooking and Nutrition
• Electrical and Mechanical Components
• Using Materials for Construction

Impact

By the time our pupils leave Bishop Hooper School, they will have:

• An excellent attitude to learning and independent working.
• The ability to use time efficiently and work constructively and productively with others.
• The ability to carry out thorough research, show initiative and ask questions to develop an exceptionally detailed knowledge of users' needs.
• The ability to act as responsible designers and makers, working ethically, using finite materials carefully and working safely.
• A thorough knowledge of which tools, equipment and materials to use to make their products.
• The ability to apply mathematical and scientific knowledge and skills accurately.
• The ability to manage risks exceptionally well to manufacture products safely and hygienically.
• A passion for the subject and a desire to explore their learning further in the future.