Design & Technology — Nook Lane Junior School

“Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.”

Steve Jobs

Design & Technology Vision

At Nook Lane Junior School we endeavour for our children to receive high-quality design technology lessons that enable them to gain experiences in designing, making and evaluating products.

Design technology calls for pupils to become creative problem solvers both as individuals and as members of a team. Through a variety of projects, design technology at Nook Lane Junior School ignites children’s curiosity and creativity, encouraging a passion for life-long learning.

In their designing and making, pupils combine practical skills with an understanding of aesthetics and function. Throughout the curriculum we teach children a wealth of life-long practical skills such as sewing, cooking, woodwork, electronics, food preparation and the importance of a healthy diet.

The DT curriculum cultivates positive attitudes and allows children to be determined, persevere and be resilient, challenging and supporting all children to be the best learners that they can be. The design and technology curriculum provides opportunities for students to work closely together with parents, families and the local and wider community.

By working alongside people from industry, the design technology curriculum will allow children to foster attitudes which enable then to become responsible and caring global citizens prepared for the opportunities and challenges of tomorrow.

Building knowledge sequentially

At Nook Lane Junior School, we aim to develop children’s knowledge and skills in design and technology by building on key concepts that are central to this subject:

Taking inspiration
Designing
Making
Evaluating
Nutrition

Children will develop their disciplinary knowledge through understanding how designers work, developing a deep understanding of the design process from project brief through to evaluation of the final product. Children will consolidate their understanding of this design process year-on-year as they tackle a range of different design briefs and projects.

Alongside their disciplinary knowledge, children will develop substantive knowledge learning a range of key skills, knowledge of a variety of construction, production and methods, knowledge of tools and approaches and knowledge of food and nutrition.