DT Subject Information

DT has become an area in our school which we wish to develop further to ensure that all staff and children all have an enthusiasm and eagerness when approaching the subject. DT is led by Mrs Harmer with support from Miss Paterson and all research and up to date practices are shared with Governors, the Leadership Team and staff on a regular basis.

The core focus of DT is designing, planning, creating and evaluating a purposeful product for a specific audience. At Birchington CEP School, we use a scheme called Kapow! This has been created by primary DT specialists, building a clear progression, in knowledge and skills, over time throughout KS1 and KS2. This curriculum builds on the children’s prior skills and learning in the Early Years which is taught through our continuous provision within Year R.

The curriculum covers all areas and skills necessary for the children to become designers in their own right, building on their learning each year from EYFS to Year 6. They have the opportunity to evaluate pre-existing products and suggest improvements, as well as design and develop their own ideas for the future.

The children are able to use a variety of tools safely when creating their designs and test out the appropriate use of different of materials. They are able to record their work accurately using detailed diagrams and the correct terminology.

In future, it is planned that the children will benefit from the experience of a variety of specialists and see design at work in the outside world. This hands-on experience will fuel the children’s passion for DT and encourages them to be our next generation of designers and technician.

The evidence of all of these wonderful experiences can be seen in the children’s books where work has been recorded via evidence sheets and photographs. However, the main source of evidence will come from the pupils themselves as they speak with enthusiasm for the subject and with an eagerness to take their learning further, whether that be though home learning tasks or through activities which they choose to pursue themselves.