“Creativity is intelligence having fun.”
–Albert Einstein

What does DT look like at Holy Family?

At Holy Family, Design and Technology is an engaging, challenging, and hands-on subject meticulously crafted into a sequential curriculum. It enables all children to acquire the essential knowledge and skills needed to appreciate the role of designers, as well as to plan and create their own projects. Equally important is the understanding of nutrition, sustainable food practices (both production and consumption), and fundamental cookery skills, which constitute a vital component of DT.

Pupils explore and comprehend the significance of design and the roles of various designers. The designers studied and the partnerships established reflect our diverse curriculum, drawing from the wealth of creative industries within our community. Children not only develop and apply knowledge of design processes but also demonstrate an understanding of the skills necessary to design and fabricate prototypes and products. They cultivate a creative, technical, and practical skill set that prepares them to thrive in an increasingly technological world while making connections to the computing curriculum. Furthermore, they grasp and implement the principles of nutrition while learning to cook sustainably.

Through a range of oracy techniques and pedagogical methods, children are encouraged to acquire subject-specific vocabulary relevant to DT and Food Technology to bolster their understanding. Carefully orchestrated partnerships allow them to learn specialist terminology associated with product design and engineering, enabling them to comprehend and contextualise design thinking processes. For instance, collaborating with the University of Westminster to design and create a water harvesting system. Children engage in critiquing, evaluating, and testing their ideas and products while discussing these processes with the vocabulary they have acquired.

In the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), they begin articulating the methods they have employed.

During EYFS, children have the opportunity to play with and explore a broad range of materials, tools, and techniques. In both nursery and reception classes, topics are linked to relevant areas of Understanding the World outlined in Development Matters, as well as fostering their Physical Development. They will be encouraged to investigate, test, and create, establishing a foundation of understanding upon which they can build their knowledge and skills in subsequent years. In Key Stage 1 (KS1), through various creative and practical activities, pupils acquire the knowledge, understanding, and skills necessary to engage in an iterative process of designing, making, and evaluating.

In Key Stage 2 (KS2), children will build upon their prior knowledge and skills, applying them to a broader array of scenarios while further enhancing their technical expertise. This progression is supported by an expanded range of partnerships. Teachers’ planning follows a structured skills progression document designed to facilitate the development of children's abilities as they advance through the school.

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