Great Tey Primary
SchoolDesign & Technology
Our design and technology curriculum is based on the National Curriculum, and aims to help pupils develop an enjoyment of both designing and creating artefacts. It aims to inspire pupils’ curiosity to know more about how things are created; the different materials that can be used and the effect the choice of materials may have on the ultimate result; the range of processes involved and how they can be used to best effect. Designing, creating and evaluating a project helps children to develop their thought processes, their ability to communicate their ideas and their ability to work as part of a team. It gives them confidence to evaluate the designs of others, considering ways that things could be improved.
In 2019, we purchased the Cornerstones Curriculum as the basis of our design and technology curriculum in order to ensure we fully cover all of the requirements of the National Curriculum and to provide a means of assessing children's confidence and learning. We adapt this curriculum to our school by taking every opportunity to personalise the designs to our local area - for example, the children were recently involved in helping to design the new village playpark and have created recipes and baking to raise funds for school projects.
Please read on below to find more information on what we teach, how we teach it and how we ensure we are creating designers of the future!
Why do we learn about design and technology?
We are creating future designers by ....
- developing children's confidence to express themselves through designing and creating artefacts - solo, in pairs and in groups
- developing children's ability to use a variety of materials and processes to create, evaluate and improve their own designs
- recognising the power of design to improve lives, solve problems and meet people's needs
- ensuring children have opportunities to be creative, adventurous and innovative
- revisiting key skills and knowledge across the primary years to ensure children's understanding of design and technology is embedded and built upon each year
- equipping children with the knowledge of design and technology they need to hold an informed conversation
- introducing children to the wide range of jobs designers can do and nurturing their ambitions to work in design-based jobs in the future, contributing to their communities and the wider world
What do we learn?
Whole School Curriculum Map
Our Whole School Curriculum Map for Design and Technology can be found here - Year A Year B
It shows how different skills will be developed over your child's time at Great Tey.
(To decide which year we are in, A or B, years starting in an 'odd' year - September 2023, 2025 etc. - are Year A, years beginning in an 'even' year - September 2022, 2024 etc. - are Year B.)
Class Maps
Please see below for our Class Maps, which give further information on skills development in your child's class through our Cornerstones topics.
Click on your child's class below for Design and Technology Cycle A covering the year 2023-2024
Ducklings (Blocks A and B are the same for Reception)
Click on your child's class below for Design and Technology Cycle B covering the year 2022-2023 / 2024-2025
Ducklings (Blocks A and B are the same for Reception)
What does our learning in design and technology help us to do?
- develop our understanding of the world around us and how the designs of the past, present and future can help to meet people's needs
- ask and answer questions, developing our ability to ask questions of increasing relevance
- develop our vocabulary to talk about design and express our ideas with increasing clarity
- enjoy creating, making choices, evaluating end results and working as part of a team
- understand the importance of nutrition and develop the ability to cook nutritious meals
- prepare for our future, whether working in a design-based career or continuing to develop our interest in design for enjoyment, either through evaluating or creating.