Design & Technology

Design is not just what it looks like and feels like; design is how it works.
– Steve Jobs

Design and Technology is an inspiring, rigorous and practical subject. Design and Technology encourages children to learn to think and intervene creatively to solve problems both as individuals and as members of a team. At Southill, we encourage children to use their creativity and imagination, to design and make products that solve real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts, considering their own and others’ needs, wants and values. We aim to, wherever possible, link work to other curriculum areas such as maths, English, science, computing and art. The children are also given opportunities to reflect upon and evaluate past and present design technology, its uses and its effectiveness and are encouraged to become innovators and risk-takers.

DT is planned to ensure that children can achieve depth in their learning.  Our Bright Futures Curriculum identifies the key knowledge and skills of each unit of learning and consideration has been given to ensure progression across topics throughout each year group across the school. 

All teaching of DT follows the design, make and evaluate cycle. Each stage is rooted in technical knowledge.  The design process  rooted in real life, relevant contexts to give meaning to learning. While making, children are given choice and a range of tools to choose freely from. To evaluate, children evaluate their own products against a design criteria. Each of these steps are rooted in technical knowledge and vocabulary.