Design and Technology
Intent
At Cedarwood, we recognise that a high-quality design and technology education provides the foundations for understanding how the world works. It is our intention to allow the children to exercise their creativity and imagination through designing and making products that solve real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts. We offer a safe and supportive learning environment where they feel confident and able to take risks and become independent and resourceful individuals for the future.
Implementation
We teach the National Curriculum and have the following aims for the subject as a whole:
- develop the creative, technical and practical expertise needed to perform everyday tasks confidently and to participate successfully in an increasingly technological world
- build and apply a repertoire of knowledge, understanding and skills in order to design and make high-quality prototypes and products for a wide range of users
- critique, evaluate and test their ideas and products and the work of others
- understand and apply the principles of nutrition and learn how to cook
In addition to these aims, it is our intent that all pupils:
- develop a sense of excitement and curiosity at being a creator and innovator
- develop a passion and appreciation of the STEM subjects
- develop an understanding of the importance of sustainability and enterprise
Learning is carefully sequenced and structured to ensure the design knowledge and skills build over time and the following principles shape design and technology lessons at Cedarwood:
- Promotion of curiosity and engagement to learning
- Regular opportunities to solve practical problems in a variety of contexts, both as an individual and part of a team
- Encouragement to use key skills and knowledge gained across other curriculum subjects
- Development of relevant design vocabulary
- Encouragement for children to question each aspect of the design and making process
- Opportunities for each child to be a reflective learner
- Regular retrieval practice to move learning to the long term memory
Impact
We aim to equip our pupils to develop a passion for designing and creating that enriches their lives now and in the future. The children will have the technical and practical expertise needed to perform everyday tasks confidently and to participate successfully in an increasingly technological world. It is our intention to create a culture where children learn to take risks, become resourceful, innovative, enterprising and capable citizens.