Design and Technology

All things are possible for one who believes – Mark 9:23

 

Design and Technology feature in each Year Group at Waverley Abbey. Children are shown that changing ideas into production requires planning, designing, making and evaluating. We want our children to be excited to develop their practical skills in cooking, working with textiles, making mechanical systems etc. We wish for our children to consider the impact that design and technology has on their lives, which will not only benefit them in school, but in their adult, working lives too. 

 

Intent

At Waverley Abbey, we intend for our Design and Technology curriculum to encourage our pupils to develop an interest and appreciation of the world and everything in it. They will recognise that Design and Technology is not only a subject to be learnt in school, it is something that is integrated into every aspect of the modern world: everything that they use in day-to-day life has been designed for a user and a purpose. Furthermore, learning about the design, make and evaluate cycle will give them the skills to critically analyse their work, knowing that everything can always be improved to better suit a particular audience.

 

Implementation

At Waverley Abbey, pupils are given opportunities to develop their skills in all the five topic areas: structures, mechanical systems, electrical systems, textiles, and cooking and nutrition. In each year group, pupils study at least two of the topics, showing a clear progression of skills throughout the school. In year 3, pupils are able to develop their skills in making structures and preparing and making food. In year 4, pupils are able to further develop their skills in making structures, as well as learn new skills related to mechanical and electrical systems. In year 5, pupils further develop their skills in mechanical systems and are given the opportunity to work with different textiles by sewing prayer mats. Pupils in year 6 further consolidate their skills in mechanical and electrical systems as well as using more advanced cooking techniques to make desserts inspired by those eaten during World War II.

 

Impact

Pupils at Waverley Abbey enjoy Design and Technology and create products which not only fit a specific user and purpose, but are designed in the exact way they want them. Learning is child-led and activities planned by teachers focus on real-life experiences that are relevant to the pupils they teach. Pupils can critically analyse their own work, and the work of others, using vocabulary which is relevant to the topic they have covered. As they move up the school, pupils develop their knowledge and skills so that by Year 6, they are ready to enhance their learning in a more specialised environment at secondary school.

If you would like to find out more about the curriculum please make an appointment to see your child's teacher who will be happy to discuss this with you, you can do this by contacting school through the office via - info@waverley-abbey.surrey.sch.uk.

 

Waverley Abbey Design and Technology Progression of Skills 2024

At Waverley Abbey we are focusing on the content of our whole curriculum to ensure that there is a much greater emphasis on the ‘powerful knowledge’ that children need in order to truly understand concepts. A Knowledge Organiser (KO) sets out in detail what we want children to know by the end of each unit of learning – especially in our foundation subjects. We wish for most of our children to be able to recall the information on the KO by the end of each unit, thus ensuring that our children retain as much information, knowledge and skills as possible.

KO are the ‘go-to’ documents outlining the essential knowledge that the teachers will be covering in each of our subjects. These will include where appropriate: dates, famous figures, vocabulary, definitions, and other useful information. Future Knowledge Organisers, will be shared with pupils at the start of each unit.

The use of the KOs will be developed over the academic year but as a guide, the children will take part in regular quizzes, that help stretch their long-term memory and develop their recall of key information as well as using them as supportive documents and learning prompts within lessons.

We ask that parents and carers read through these KO at home with the children, to support them with their long term memory. It is also useful for children to go back to previous Knowledge Organisers and revise these so that the information from previous learning is not forgotten.

 

Design and Technology - Year 4 Moving Toys Knowledge Organiser

Design and Technology - Year 5 Furniture Knowledge Organiser

Design and Technology - Year 5 Prayer Mats Knowledge Organiser

Design and Technology - Year 6 Christmas Stockings Knowledge Organiser

Design and Technology - Year 6 Fairground Rides Knowledge Organiser

Design and Technology - Year 6 WW2 Baking Knowledge Organiser

Year 3 DT Structures Knowledge Organiser