‘Design is not just what it looks and feels like. Design is how it works.’

Steve Jobs

Design and Technology at High Halden Primary prepares children to deal with the rapidly changing world beyond our community. It encourages children to become independent, creative problem solvers and thinkers both as individuals and part of a team. It enables them to identify needs and opportunities and to respond to them by developing a range of ideas by making products and systems. Through the study of Design and Technology, children combine practical skills with an understanding of aesthetic, social and environmental issues, as well as functions and industry. This allows them to reflect on and evaluate past and present technology, it's uses and impacts.

At High Halden Primary School DT follows the design, make and evaluate cycle. Teachers use key vocabulary and structure lessons to ensure each stage is rooted in technical knowledge. In Early Years and Key Stage 1 design is rooted in real life - giving context and meaning to children’s learning. Children are provided with a wide range of materials and components to bring their designs to life, taking guidance from adults when exploring the best uses of materials and tools, before evaluating their products against an agreed design criteria. 

Throughout Key Stage 2, pupils build upon the technical knowledge and skills of the DT cycle acquired in Key Stage 1 to deepen and enhance their practical expertise further. Children continually critique, evaluate and test their ideas and products and the work of others using research focussed on the functionality, appearance and purpose of a product. Children plan their designs using annotated sketches, cross-sectional diagrams and prototypes to ensure their products meet agreed criteria before construction. In ‘making’ their product, children are provided with a greater range of tools, textiles, equipment and ingredients than in Key Stage 1, and provided with specific detailed instructions and advice on how to use these efficiently. 

Throughout the school year, theme days are held to further enhance the profile and exposure of Design Technology techniques and skills, in addition to highlighting specific career opportunities beyond High Halden. These include, cookery sessions, STEM projects and visits from professionals within the industry. 

This document shows the Design Technology curriculum coverage and progression at High Halden. As a school we have more in depth documents which detail the essential knowledge and skills children are expected to acquire by the end of each unit of work.