Design and Technology

Welcome to the Arts! 

Here is the Arts Team: Miss K Mills, Mrs J Healy and Mrs R Jenkinson. They are all passionate about all the Arts (Music, Art and Design Technology).

Miss K Mills (Year 2) loves all the Arts because of the sheer joy that they bring to all. Miss K Mills loves to make handcrafted cards in her spare time and loves to be creative with gifts for friends and family. Miss K Mills is so happy to be on this team and is beyond excited about the upcoming Arts Festival.

Mrs R Jenkinson (KS1) - is passionate about the Arts being the gateway to children's creativity. She loves to find ways to weave art, dance, drama, crafts and music into children's lives, in to the classroom and in extra curricular clubs. She particularly loves running her Creative Club, where children can paint, craft and sing!

Mrs J Healy (Year 5) has a total love for the performing arts from a very young age. She is very passionate about sharing this with children to help their creativity and provide them with opportunities that they may never get elsewhere, including taking part in school productions. Mrs Healy loves to mosaic in her free time and is incredibly excited for the Arts Festival.

Intent

Design and Technology (D.T) is an inspiring, rigorous and practical subject. Design and Technology encourages children to learn to think and intervene creatively to solve problems both as individuals and as members of a team. At Norwood, we encourage children to use their creativity and imagination, to 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 aim to, wherever possible, link work to other disciplines such as mathematics, science, engineering, computing and art. The children are also given opportunities to reflect upon and evaluate past and present design technology, its uses and its effectiveness and are encouraged to become innovators and risk-takers. As a school we have really developed staff knowledge of Design and Technology, through the use of more specialised planning. We need to continue to develop our understanding and knowledge of inventors.

Implementation

Through a variety of creative and practical activities, we teach the knowledge, understanding and skills needed to engage in an iterative process of designing and making. The children work in a range of relevant contexts (for example home, school, leisure, culture, enterprise, industry and the wider environment).

When designing and making, the children are taught to:

Design

  • use research and develop design criteria to inform the design of innovative, functional, appealing products that are fit for purpose, aimed at particular individuals or groups
  • generate, develop, model and communicate their ideas through discussion, annotated sketches, cross-sectional diagrams, prototypes, pattern pieces and computer-aided design

Make

  • select from and use a wider range of tools and equipment to perform practical tasks (for example, cutting, shaping, joining and finishing) accurately
  • select from and use a wider range of materials and components, including construction materials, textiles and ingredients, according to their functional properties and aesthetic qualities

Evaluate

  • investigate and analyse a range of existing products
  • evaluate their ideas and products against their own design criteria and consider the views of others to improve their work
  • understand how key events and individuals in design and technology have helped shape the world

Technical knowledge

  • apply their understanding of how to strengthen, stiffen and reinforce more complex structures
  • understand and use mechanical systems in their products
  • understand and use electrical systems in their products
  • apply their understanding of computing to program, monitor and control their products

Key skills and key knowledge for D.T have been mapped across the school to ensure progression between year groups. This also ensures that there is a context for the children’s work in Design and Technology; that they learn about real life structures and the purpose of specific examples, as well as developing their skills throughout the programme of study. Design and Technology lessons are also taught as a block so that children’s learning is focused throughout each unit of work.

Impact

We ensure the children:

  • 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 and 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.

Children will design and make a range of products. A good quality finish will be expected in all design and activities made appropriate to the age and ability of the child. 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. High-quality design and technology education makes an essential contribution to the creativity, culture, wealth and well-being of the nation.

By the end of a pupil’s time in Norwood, we want our children in D.T to:

  • Generate, develop and communicate my ideas in different ways (e.g. through discussion; annotated sketches; cross-sectional and exploded diagrams; prototypes; and information and communication technology).
  • Use research to develop my own design criteria to inform the design of innovative, functional, appealing products that are aimed at particular individuals or groups.
  • Select from and use a wider range of tools and equipment to accurately perform practical tasks (e.g. cutting, shaping, joining and finishing).
  • Select from and use a wider range of materials and components (including construction materials, textiles and ingredients) according to their function and looks.
  • Use mechanical systems in my products (e.g. gears, pulleys, cams, levers and linkages).
  • Evaluate my ideas and products against my own design criteria and consider the views of others.
  • Investigate and analyse a range of existing products with a greater level of scrutiny and critical thought.
  • Know and understand how to strengthen, stiffen and reinforce more complex structures.
  • Know how electrical circuits / computing principles are integrated into a product.
  • Know and understand how key events (e.g. the invention of the steam engine, electricity, plastic) and key individuals (e.g. Isambard Kingdom Brunel, George Stephenson, Lewis Latimer) in design and technology have helped shape the world.
  • Understand how historical restrictions have previously limited the opportunities for some groups (e.g. women) to be successful designers.

Files to Download

Our Values and EthosASPIRE, RESPECT and ENJOY

Contact us at Norwood Primary School

Head Teacher: Lee Dumbell
Norwood Crescent
Southport
Merseyside
PR9 7DU
SEND Contact: Rachael Brookfield - SENDCo
Chair of Governors: Mrs Lesley Lee