Design and Technology Aims

The National Curriculum for design and technology aims to ensure that all pupils:

understand food and nutrition and have opportunities to learn to cook. In meeting this aim schools without access to a teaching kitchen, nearby kitchen or mobile kitchen may have to adapt what they teach accordingly to the facilities available.

It also aims to ensure that, working in fields such as materials (including textiles), horticulture, electricals and electronics, construction, and mechanics, they:

  • develop valuable practical skills and use these safely with a range of resistant and non-resistant materials, drawing media, tools and equipment, in both 2-D and 3-D
  • design and make well-crafted products that are fit for purpose
  • develop and use a range of common practical skills, in contexts such as mechanical, diagnostic and repair tasks
  • understand and, where appropriate, use the design cycle of planning, developing prototypes, modifying, making and evaluating
  • know about good design, everyday products and use correct technical terminology
  • investigate the rich history of design and technological innovation in Britain and further afield, from the Industrial Revolution onwards, as well as current innovations.

Key Stage 2

Pupils should develop their skills and the safe use of tools and equipment by undertaking a range of practical tasks, such as making products, maintenance or cooking. They should increase their experience in different areas of design and technology, including through learning about local crafts or industries. They should understand how to use constructive feedback to improve what they design and make. Pupils should be taught about key historical developments in design and technology.

Pupils should be taught about the major components of a balanced diet and how ingredients can be combined to prepare healthy meals. They should be taught basic cooking techniques and how to cook a variety of savoury dishes. In meeting these requirements, schools without access to a teaching kitchen, nearby kitchen or mobile kitchen may have to adapt the dishes and techniques they teach accordingly to the facilities available.

Through working in fields selected from those listed in the introduction (materials (including textiles), horticulture, electricals and electronics, construction, and mechanics), pupils should be taught to:

  • use safely and increasingly effectively a wider range of tools, equipment and materials with increasing skill to make products that are fit for purpose
  • develop and use straightforward practical, maintenance and repair skills
  • extend their skills to communicate their ideas visually in 2-D and 3-D, including through using information and communication technology
  • use constructive comments from others to improve their work
  • understand key events and turning points in design and technology, such as the Industrial Revolution, and how they have shaped the world we live in.
Emmaus CMAC
St Ambrose Catholic Primary School Ofsted
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