Intent
At Westwood Academy, we aim to teach children to become problem-solvers equipping them with the skills to think creatively about solutions. We provide clear progression through a well-planned and meaningfully sequenced D&T curriculum which builds on knowledge effectively and encourages independence, innovation and creativity. Through the acquisition of substantive and disciplinary knowledge, we intend to develop children’s creative, technical and imaginative thinking so that they can design, make and evaluate purposeful and functional products for a range of users.
Implementation
- A structured series of lessons for each DT unit, meticulously planned for progression and depth, ensuring students develop a comprehensive understanding of design and technology concepts.
- Purposeful design opportunities, such as our Enterprise Week, are integrated into our curriculum to provide students with a hands-on and immersive experience in applying their design and technology skills.
- Challenging questions to encourage students to apply their learning in a critical and open-minded manner, fostering problem-solving skills within design and technology.
- Educational visits and visiting experts to enrich the D&T learning experience, enhancing students’ contextual understanding of design and technology in the real world.
- Opportunities to display and celebrate students’ design and technology projects, promoting a sense of achievement and pride in their creative and practical accomplishments.
Impact
- Children develop substantive and disciplinary knowledge in D&T which enables them to perform everyday tasks confidently and to participate successfully in an increasingly technological world.
- All children will leave Westwood equipped with the skills to prepare and cook a meal and will understand the importance of a healthy and varied diet.
- Children know more and remember more through making meaningful connections and can apply their D&T knowledge to practical tasks independently.
- Our curriculum equips children for success to become resourceful, innovative and competent young designers, who are given the opportunity to explore their own ideas and develop the creative and practical skills required to solve real and relevant problems now and in their future.
