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

The 5 key strands of Design and Technology:

There are 5 key strands of learning: Materials and Structures, Mechanisms, Textiles, Food and Nutrition and Electrical Systems.  Our pupils have the opportunity to design, make and evaluate products connected with their learning while learning to use a range of tools and techniques.

When designing and making, pupils will be 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 and exploded diagrams, prototypes, pattern pieces and computer-aided design

Make

• select from and use a wider range of tools and equipment to perform practical tasks (e.g. 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

Design and Technology at St James' aims to inspire children to be innovative and creative thinkers who have the appreciation of the product design process through design, make and evaluate. We want children to develop the confidence to take risks, through drafting design concepts, modelling, testing and to be reflective learners who evaluate their own and others’ work. We want our children to have an awareness of the impact that Design and Technology has on our lives and encourage children to become resourceful, enterprising citizens who will have the skills to contribute to future design advancements.

Our Design and Technology planning fulfils the National Curriculum requirements and we use the 'Kapow' scheme of work as a tool to help us deliver the objectives. The scheme of work is coherently planned, sequenced and ensures good progression to enable children to reach their full potential as designers and creators, gaining the appropriate knowledge and skills desired.