INTENT

Design Technology brings learning to life. It is a motivating context for discovering literacy, mathematics, science, art, PSHE and ICT.  At Emmaus, Design Technology education involves two important elements - learning about the designed and made world and how things work, and learning to design and make functional products for particular purposes and users. Through Design Technology at Emmaus, we aim to provide opportunities for all our pupils to develop their capabilities in these areas. By combining their design and making skills with technical knowledge and understanding, they learn to create quality products.

Through the DT curriculum, children should be inspired by engineers, designers, chefs and architects to enable them to create a range of structures, mechanisms, textiles, electrical systems and food products with a real life purpose. In order to provide a range of opportunities for our children to develop as independent, successful learners with high aspirations, our DT curriculum is also intrinsically linked to our whole school curriculum drivers:

Gospel Values

As a joint denominational school, Christian values are at the forefront of daily school life at Emmaus. The values of ‘Hope’, ‘Trust’, ‘Friendship’ and ‘Love’ are actively promoted throughout our DT curriculum. The children are encouraged to show trust and friendship as they work together to help each other with their projects. Moreover, they should show respect as they talk about what they like and dislike when designing and making things.

Cultural Capital

At Emmaus, we believe that a rich and broad curriculum builds cultural capital and we thus provide our children with a vast range of experiences and opportunities to help them progress and achieve success. Throughout the DT curriculum, we foster enjoyment, satisfaction and purpose in designing and making things. The children are encouraged to ask questions; to search for answers; to make things that help others; to draw ideas and build designs; to test and make changes to their designs. They learn that it is acceptable to make mistakes and consequently to develop evaluation skills to critically analyse and improve products and designs.

Diversity

At Emmaus, we understand the importance of developing a curriculum that is diverse, allowing the children to expand their knowledge and understanding of many different identities in a manner appropriate to the subject matter being taught. Our DT curriculum appreciates the work of contemporary and historic designers and their contribution to the world in which we live. In addition to the wealth of impressive structures in our city, and exciting foods from the rich variety of cultures found here, we also look to those from around the world. For example, our food topics tie in with geography lessons as children consider Mayan and South American influences. The children study a range of diverse design figures including Coco Chanel, Vivienne Westwood, George Stephenson, Isambard Kingdom Brunel, Karl Benz, Guglielmo Marconi, Jon Von Neumann, Iggy Peck and Rosie Revere.

Independence

Our DT curriculum heavily promotes independent learning. The children are encouraged to use their creativity and imagination to design and make products that solve real and relevant problems, considering their own and others' needs. They are encouraged to express their own findings freely and children demonstrate their findings in their exercise books. Pupils are guided towards selecting the most appropriate tools and techniques for making a product, whilst following safe procedures.

High expectations

In line with all areas of our school curriculum, we have high expectations for all children to achieve their potential in DT- regardless of their starting points. The DT curriculum and assessment system at Emmaus is developed to ensure that we motivate pupils, monitor progress and achieve consistently high standards. There are high expectations for children to use appropriate vocabulary to articulate their findings. There is a clear and ambition progression of vocabulary form Early Years to Year 6.

IMPLEMENTATION

In accordance with the National Curriculum’s expectations, we aim to ensure that all pupils:

• Produce creative work, exploring their ideas and recording their experiences
• Become proficient in craft and design techniques
• Evaluate and analyse creative works using the language of art, craft and design
• Know about great artists, craft makers and designers, and understand the historical and cultural development of their art forms

Long term curriculum planning is based upon the statutory requirements of the National Curriculum 2014 Programme of Study for Design Technology. The Curriculum Map for DT shows how DT coverage is ensured across KS1, LKS2 and UKS2, using the ‘Projects on a Page’ scheme units of work, covered in each year group every term. All teaching of DT should follow the research, design, make and evaluate cycle. These units of work have been compiled, planned and agreed by the DT subject leader and class teachers and endorsed by SI Liverpool Curriculum Lead. DT plans, teaching and learning are monitored by the DT lead for coherence and progression. Teachers are careful to select topics and methods of delivery that are appropriate to the needs and experience of the pupils and to the local circumstances of the school.

SEND - Adaptive teaching will take place to ensure that all pupils can access the planned lessons. 

Children showing extensive aptitude in DT will be celebrated in weekly celebration assemblies. Pupils may also have their work displayed in school, presented to parents (Year 1 fruit kebabs as a buffet at their assembly) and may win competitions in which we take part (Absolutely Catering Cook Book). We make use of existing expertise within the school community, linking with our school kitchen manager (with Hutchison Catering) to create an Emmaus Recipe Book which raised funds for Mary's Meals.    

IMPACT

At Emmaus Primary School, Design Technology is a popular subject with our pupils. They favour making decisions for themselves, planning purposeful projects and doing practical work to see their ideas come to life. Children 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. Our children are becoming creative problem-solvers, both as individuals and as part of a team.