Design & Technology

Design and Technology

As Designers and technologists, we do not just stop at our curiosity of how things work but instead look at how we can think creatively to problem solve and make products even better. At St. Mark’s we have an understanding of the diversity of the world and the importance of exposing our pupils to a wide range of products that can inspire their curiosity and creativity, as well as the thought-processes involved in creating such products. Children work through the design process starting with a brief and ending in an evaluation. The curriculum at St. Mark’s is planned to ensure that topics are set in real life contexts. Each topic starts with a question or a problem that pupils will explore to answer or solve. As pupils work through the design process they communicate their ideas, research and evaluate their plans. Each unit is designed to build on previous knowledge and skills and as pupils move through the school they refine and improve on skills. 

Design and Technology is taught through half termly projects in Key Stages 1 and 2. Food and Nutrition is taught in blocks within this. Lessons are taught in blocks and develop from the initial ‘brief’ to the making stage where pupils use tools and materials to make their products.

The Design and Technology curriculum at St Mark’s aims to spark a curiosity within our pupils about how things are made and how they work. It encourages creativity and problem solving skills when thinking about how to make products and how to take steps to evaluate and improve those products. 

We pride ourselves on exposing our pupils to a wide range of diverse designers, reflecting our own and the wider diversity of our community and beyond. The wide range of designs and products inspire and ignite the pupils interests within many different aspects; from the research carried out about the designers to learning new skills, as well as the thought-processes involved in creating such products.

The curriculum at St. Mark’s is planned to ensure that topics are set in real life contexts and are built upon as they move through each year group. Skills are revisited to enable to allow pupils to embed their understanding before learning more complex skills to make progress and be able to apply what they have learnt in real life situations. 

Within each unit of work, pupils work through the design process starting with a brief, research element, designing their own products and ending in an evaluation. Each topic starts with a question or a problem that pupils will explore to answer or solve. As pupils work through the design process they communicate their ideas, research and evaluate their plans. Each unit is designed to build on previous knowledge and skills and as pupils move through the school they refine and improve on skills. Design and Technology is taught through half termly projects in Key Stages 1 and 2. Food and Nutrition is taught in blocks within this. Lessons are taught in blocks and develop from the initial ‘brief’ to the making stage where pupils use tools and materials to make their products.