Intent

At Crosby Ravensworth Primary, we believe that Design and Technology prepares children to look forward and deal with a rapidly changing world.  It encourages them to think imaginatively, become problem solvers and take risks while working well independently and with their peers.  Our curriculum aims to inspire pupils to become innovative and creative thinkers who have an appreciation for the design cycle through ideation, creation and evaluation.  We want pupils to improve their design through drafting, modelling and testing and to become reflective learners.  Using the Kapow scheme of work, we aim to build an awareness of the role of technology and design in our lives and equip pupils to have the skills to become technological innovators in the future.

Implementation

Design Technology is taught in mixed age classes incorporating Year 1 & Year 2 in Class 1 and Years 3-6 in Class 2.  We work on a two year rolling programme in Class 1 and a four year rolling programme in Class 2, allowing for skills progressions across the age ranges.  The subject is time-tabled for at least an hour in each class for three alternating half-terms per year which equates to 6-8 hours per term.  

At Crosby Ravensworth, we follow the Kapow Scheme of work: pupils respond to design briefs and scenarios that require consideration of the needs of others, developing their skills in six key areas. Each of our key areas follows the design process (design, make and evaluate) and has a particular theme and focus from the technical knowledge or cooking and nutrition section of the curriculum.  

The six key areas are:

• Cooking and nutrition
• Mechanisms/ Mechanical systems
• Structures
• Textiles
• Electrical systems (KS2 only)
• Digital world (KS2 only)

The Kapow Primary scheme is a spiral curriculum, with key areas revisited again and again with increasing complexity, allowing pupils to revisit and build on their previous learning. Lessons incorporate a range of teaching strategies from independent tasks, paired and group work including practical hands-on, computer-based and inventive tasks.

Impact

The impact of teaching Design Technology can be constantly monitored summative assessment opportunities and each lesson includes guidance to support teachers in assessing pupils against the learning objectives. After the implementation of Kapow Primary Design and technology, pupils should leave school equipped with a range of skills to enable them to succeed in their secondary education and be innovative and resourceful members of society.

The expected impact of following the scheme of work is that children will:

• Understand the functional and aesthetic properties of a range of materials and resources.
• Understand how to use and combine tools to carry out different processes for shaping, decorating, and manufacturing products.
• Build and apply a repertoire of skills, knowledge and understanding to produce high quality, innovative outcomes, including models, prototypes, CAD, and products to fulfil the needs of users, clients, and scenarios.
• Understand and apply the principles of healthy eating, diets, and recipes, including key processes, food groups and cooking equipment.
• Have an appreciation for key individuals, inventions, and events in history and of today that impact our world.
• Recognise where our decisions can impact the wider world in terms of community, social and environmental issues.
• Self-evaluate and reflect on learning at different stages and identify areas to improve.
• Meet the end of key stage expectations outlined in the National curriculum for Design and technology.
• Meet the end of key stage expectations outlined in the National curriculum for Computing