Intent
During their time at Oaklands Junior School pupils will acquire a broad range of subject knowledge from working on a variety of practical and creative projects (appendix 1). Through an iterative process of designing and making pupils will be taught the knowledge and understanding and be able to practice and refine the skills and processes that will enable them to achieve and make products that solve real and relevant problems.
Design and technology at Oaklands aims to develop enquiring minds and creative thinkers through allowing them to use their imaginations and draw on other subjects such as maths, science, art and computing when following the planning, design, testing and evaluation process.
Aiming to instil a love of cooking, pupils will be given opportunities to apply the principles of nutrition and a healthy diet through creating a variety of dishes, taking into account seasonality and using a range of cooking techniques.
Our intent is that at Oaklands our pupils leave with an enthusiasm for the subject and be able to use the skills and knowledge they have acquired to enrich their own lives and contribute to today’s society.
Following the COVID pandemic, we recognise the impact that the lack of face-to-face teaching has had on the children’s progress in design and technology. Although lessons were provided as part of our remote learning provision during lockdown, we are aware that we will need to revisit some key concepts from previous year groups.
Implementation
At Oaklands Junior School Design and Technology skills, knowledge and understanding are taught and developed in lessons through an iterative process. It allows our pupils to explore and revise their ideas. As a thinking school this process helps to build a depth to their understanding and gain confidence and conviction in their own ideas.
The lessons and resources are designed to challenge, allow the children to gain new skills and knowledge and build resilience. We are very fortunate to have an on-site kitchen at Oaklands which enables children to explore a variety of cooking processes. The continuity through the year groups/KS2 also gives the opportunity to build on prior knowledge and skills through revisiting and consolidating, adding depth to their understanding. For example, the sowing techniques taught in Year 3 aid with the skills that are required for the weaving in Year 4 and then in Year 6 the sewing techniques that are required for Chinese slippers are revisited and built upon to produce a better quality of finish to the product.
Appropriate lessons for each year group/key stage, offer structure and narrative but also allow pupils to explore, adapt and evolve their ideas as a team or independently. Revision and introduction of key vocabulary is built into each lesson. This is then included in further teaching and discussions to ensure that children are allowed opportunities to repeat and revise this knowledge. A combination of support and freedom with their ideas encourages pupils to feel confident with the skills and knowledge that they are acquiring and applying.
Through a series of lessons, scattered throughout the academic year on a variety of topics we aim to build enquiring minds, encourage resilience and inspire a love of Design and Technology and see how it has helped shaped the ever-evolving technological world they live in.
Impact
The impact of the lessons will be seen across Oaklands with an increase in the profile of Design and Technology.
The learning environment across the school will be more consistent with design and technology technical vocabulary displayed, spoken and used by all learners. Whole-school and parental engagement will be improved through the use of design and technology-specific home learning tasks and opportunities suggested in lessons and overviews for wider learning.
By the end of Year 6, Oaklands Junior School children will be able to:
- Generate, explore and identify specific designs which will inform the order of their works on a project.
- Select and accurately use a variety of skills to construct and modify, producing a quality product.
- Test, discuss and evaluate their product and consider and record improvements.
- Acquire a range of technical knowledge that can be applied to build structures using mechanics, electrical components and computer programming to monitor and control a product.
Children with SEN are supported through the use of differentiated tasks and adult support when needed.
Impact can also be measured through key questioning skills built into lessons, child-led assessment such as success criteria grids, and KWL grids and summative assessments aimed at targeting next steps in learning. Learning walks and pupil conferencing carried out by subject leaders will also enable a fluid monitoring process that will allow for adaptation and change when required.
At Oaklands we want to ensure that Design and Technology is loved by as many pupils as possible across the school, therefore encouraging them to want to continue building on this wealth of skills and understanding, now and in the future.