Design & Technology

Our intent is that Design and Technology (D.T.) is an inspiring, practical, meaningful, and memorable subject.  Using creativity and imagination, pupils design and make products that solve real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts, considering their own and others’ needs, wants and values.  Making and learning from mistakes is a significant part of D.T. and integral to learning. The children will experience one project over three half-terms, to ensure continuity, progression and to enable a focus on the process as well as the end product.  These projects will include design, making, food and nutrition.  Topics are cross-curricular and support a broad range of subject knowledge, drawing on disciplines such as mathematics, science, engineering, computing and art.    

At Tetherdown Children learn about Design and Technology - the study of the creation, design, manufacturing and evaluation of products. This subject also enhances and draws upon many of our core subjects – Maths and English in a purposeful, interactive manner, whilst fostering inquisitive and collaborative learning.  We feel it is vital to nurture imagination and innovation through design, and by exploring the designed and made world in which we live and work, this will include children learning about key designers, manufacturers and chefs who have made a mark in history.  

At Tetherdown, we follow the ‘Projects on a Page’ (D.T. Association) Scheme In each year group, children will experience one DT project each term: either Mechanisms, Construction and Textiles or Cooking and Nutrition.  We spread these out over the year so that there is continued progression and development over these units throughout the school. Children are actively encouraged to research, question and evaluate while beginning to develop their own design criteria. They will continue to assess and review their work to see if any changes need to be made, actively encouraging the children to explain their reasoning. 

Cooking and nutrition are an important element to D.T. Having a healthy diet and lifestyle is crucial, but even more importantly it is being able to put these into practice and learn the art and independence of cooking. In the Early Years and KS1 involve recipes without the need of a heat source. KS2 cook with heat sources, where necessary, and gain more independence within the kitchen. At Tetherdown, we understand the value of re-learning these core skills and encouraging a culture for all children to leave school with the basic skills in cooking and nutrition.  

We implement our D.T. curriculum through giving the children real and relevant problems to solve, making cross curricular links to broaden our understanding, offering enrichment opportunities such as workshops and competitions, and creating real products that serve a purpose. Children work collaboratively and are eager to solve real life problems when constructing and applying techniques.

Our D.T. topics can transcend as a story that comes to life through a D.T. project; in the Reception classes, the story of ‘Supertato’ inspires children to design their own evil pea trap to finally catch the evil pea!  Significant points in history inspire the use of D.T. For example, building Tudor homes to re-enact ‘The Great Fire of London’ or models of the Parthenon linking history and geography.  Further, links with geography and landmarks inspire projects to design model bridges. Going beyond the curriculum we offer children the opportunity to extend their interests in food preparation by joining our “Rooky Cooks” Club. 

Our children make links in learning and realise the potential for creating innovative and inspiring designs. Teachers encourage the use of IT and support model making in order to help children solve problems in an increasingly complex and challenging world.