Our school vision

"This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118 

Our curriculum vision for Design and Technology - Our Intent

DT experiences will provide opportunities for our children to learn how to take risks and to become resourceful, innovative, enterprising and evaluative during their DT work. Children will have opportunity to be creative, technical and practical and see projects through to completion from the smallest design ideas. We are fortunate to have our own purpose-built kitchen and children will have regular opportunity to work on cooking and nutrition life skills too. 

Our pupils will acquire a broad range of subject knowledge and draw on disciplines such as mathematics, science, engineering, computing and art. Pupils learn how to take risks, becoming resourceful, innovative, enterprising and capable citizens. Through the evaluation of past and present design and technology, they develop a critical understanding of its impact on daily life and the wider world.

At Finchampstead, we ensure plenty of curriculum time is given to this subject, so that our children can be fully immersed in their Design and Technology explorations. We will work in a range of relevant contexts within school, our outdoor environment and the wider world.

Our KS1 pupils will be taught to; 

• design purposeful, functional, appealing products for themselves and other users based on design criteria 

• generate, develop, model and communicate their ideas through talking, drawing, templates, mock-ups and, where appropriate, information and communication technology  

• select from and use a range of tools and equipment to perform practical tasks [for example, cutting, shaping, joining and finishing] 

•  select from and use a wide range of materials and components, including construction materials, textiles and ingredients, according to their characteristics. 

• explore and evaluate a range of existing products 

• evaluate their ideas and products against design criteria  

• use the basic principles of a healthy and varied diet to prepare dishes 

•  understand where food comes from. 

Our KS2 pupils will;   

•  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  

• select from and use a wider range of tools and equipment to perform practical tasks [for example, 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  

•  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

• apply their understanding of how to strengthen, stiffen and reinforce more complex structures 

• understand and use mechanical systems in their products [for example, gears, pulleys, cams, levers and linkages] 

• understand and use electrical systems in their products [for example, series circuits incorporating switches, bulbs, buzzers and motors] 

• apply their understanding of computing to program, monitor and control their products.  

• understand and apply the principles of a healthy and varied diet 

•  prepare and cook a variety of predominantly savoury dishes using a range of cooking techniques   

• understand seasonality, and know where and how a variety of ingredients are grown, reared, caught and processed.