Design Technology
As a school, we have chosen to follow the Kapow Design and Technology scheme. The Design and Technology scheme of work aims to inspire pupils to be innovative and creative thinkers who have an appreciation for the product design cycle through ideation, creation, and evaluation. We want pupils to develop the confidence to take risks, through drafting design concepts, modelling, and testing, and to be reflective learners who evaluate their work and the work of others.
Through the Kapow Primary scheme of work, we aim to build an awareness of the impact of design and technology on our lives and encourage pupils to become resourceful, enterprising citizens who will have the skills to contribute to future design advancements. Our Design and Technology scheme of work enables pupils to meet the end of key stage attainment targets in the National Curriculum, and the aims also align with those in the National Curriculum. EYFS (Reception) units provide opportunities for pupils to work towards the Development Matters statements and the Early Learning Goals.
The Design and Technology National Curriculum outlines the three main stages of the design process: design, make and evaluate. Each stage of the design process is underpinned by technical knowledge, which encompasses the contextual, historical, and technical understanding required for each strand. Cooking and nutrition has a separate section, with a focus on specific principles, skills and techniques in food, including where food comes from, diet and seasonality.
The National Curriculum organises the Design and Technology attainment targets under four subheadings: Design, Make, Evaluate, and Technical knowledge. We have taken these subheadings to be our Kapow Primary strands.
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Cooking and nutrition
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Mechanisms/ Mechanical systems
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Structures
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Textiles
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Electrical systems (KS2 only)
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Digital world (KS2 only)
Kapow Primary’s Design and Technology scheme has a clear progression of skills and knowledge within these strands and key areas across each year group. 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. This variety means that lessons are engaging and appeal to pupils with a range of learning styles.
After the implementation of Kapow Primary Design and Technology, pupils 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.