Design and Technology
“Creative and critical problem solvers able to respond to tomorrow’s rapidly changing world”
At William Gilbert Primary School and Nursery, Design and Technology is an important part of the children’s entitlement to a broad and balanced curriculum.
Design and technology is an inspiring, rigorous and practical subject. Lessons encourage children to learn to think and intervene creatively to solve problems both as individuals and as members of a team. Working independently and collaboratively children will, using their creativity and imaginations, design and make products that solve real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts, considering their own and others’ needs, wants and values.
Through a rich and progressive curriculum they will acquire a broad range of subject knowledge and, wherever possible, draw on disciplines such as mathematics, science, engineering, computing and art. Within a safe and nurturing environment pupils will learn how to take risks, becoming resourceful, innovative, enterprising and capable citizens.
Through the evaluation of past and present design and technology, they will develop a critical understanding of its impact on daily life and the wider world.
It is our hope that all William Gilbert pupils will use their design and technology skills to make an essential contribution to the creativity, culture, wealth and well-being of our future society.
At William Gilbert, we promote pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development through Design and Technology in the following ways:
- The process of creative thinking and innovation inspires students to bring out undiscovered talents, which in turn breeds a self-confidence and belief in their abilities. It also challenges and appeals to the creative instincts that have driven humanity to discover, adapt and overcome.
- We seek to develop a sense of ‘moral conscience’ in our pupils. We teach pupils to understand the wider impacts on the environment when designing and making new products. We encourage sustainable thinking and consideration of the impact on environmentally sensitive areas of the world.
- We teach the concept of self-regulation to ensure that students accept responsibility for their behaviour and the safety of others. We place an emphasis on developing the ability to work with others during the design and making process. Self and peer evaluation is used as a vehicle to improve the products being made and pupil’s learning outcomes.
- We seek to expand pupil’s knowledge of cultural influences on design. We develop wider cultural awareness in Design Technology through projects that have a connection with our past heritage and how our industrial routes have shaped our nation.
Our Design and Technology curriculum encompasses the aims of the National Curriculum to ensure all pupils:
- develop the creative, technical and practical expertise need to perform everyday tasks confidently and to participate successfully in an increasingly technological world.
- build and apply a repertoire of knowledge, understanding and skills in order to design and make high-quality prototypes and products for a wide range of users
- critique, evaluate and test their ideas and products and the work of others
- understand and apply the principles of nutrition and learn how to cook.
