Woodthorpe Church of England Primary School

At Woodthorpe, the Design and Technology curriculum is designed to give pupils opportunities to develop skills in designing and making food products, textiles products, structures and mechanisms which at times will incorporate using electrical components. This is an ideal springboard for the development of collaborative working and encourages evaluations of the pupils own ideas and products. 

Curriculum Intent

We believe that Design Technology helps children to become problem solvers through practical tasks, using creativity and imagination. We wish for children to take every day or familiar objects and investigate how they actually work and who they are really aimed at. As a school, our intent for Design Technology is:

• Teach design and technology as an inspiring and practical subject.
• Work with a variety of materials and through the new skills they learn, so children get to design, make and evaluate a range of products. 
• Provide opportunities for children to work individually or as a team to design and create things in a variety of different ways
• Enable and inspire children to become innovators
• Teach a varied and balanced design and technology curriculum, progresses skills and extends knowledge and vocabulary each year
• Support our children in developing a critical understanding of design and technology and its impact on daily life and the wider world
• Promote cooking skills and children’s enjoyment of this, whilst educating the importance of a balanced and varied diet
• Make cross curricular links with design technology to other subjects where this is possible to make the subject relevant and meaningful

To read more on our Intent, Implementation and Impact statements, consideration of British Values, SMSC and careers in Design Technology, please view our 3I's document below:

Woodthorpe's Design Technology Intent, Implementation and Impact Document

Curriculum Coverage

At Woodthorpe C of E Primary, we follow the Cornerstones Curriculum, however we adapt this to meet the local needs of our children and enrichment opportunities. We work on a one year cycle in Reception, a two year cycle in Key Stage 1, a three year cycle for Year 3, 4 and 5, and a one year cycle for Year 6. The complete lists of designers and significant figures for DT that we will cover can be found in our school’s medium term plans, as these are often related to our topics. We will however cover a wide variety of men and women from different cultures, inspirational figures who are living with different disabilities, alongside covering those that are both alive and dead.

Please read the overview below if you are interested in our Cornerstones Projects and specifically how these are related to Design Technology at Woodthorpe, alongside a summary of the significant individuals we will study and any enrichment opportunities each term. This document will be updated on the website termly to show new opportunities that we are providing. 

Summary of Design Technology at Woodthorpe 2024 - 2025

Teachers follow the sequence and progression grids to ensure that the full curriculum is covered and that this is sequential as children progress through their years with us at Woodthorpe. We also, as teachers, use a core knowledge grid, which is the sticky knowledge that we strive for all pupils to confidently know in their year group and retain throughout their time at Woodthorpe. This will be constantly reviewed by Class Teachers in Key Stage 1 in the form of 'Pinny Time', and in Key Stage 2 during lesson inputs and plenaries. Our staff must also follow the Art and Design Policy which is reviewed termly by the Art Coordinator

Please follow the link bellow to view our skills and progression grids for Design Technology.

Woodthorpe C of E Primary Design Technology Skills and Progression Document 2023-24 

Woodthorpe C of E Primary Design Technology Policy

As a school, we are constantly striving to make ourselves the best we can be for our children. As the curriculum develops and the opportunities available to the school, we create action plans for each subject on how we can consistently develop and grow. If you are interested in what the school is targeting towards for Design Technology, please click below to view our action plan.

Design Technology Action Plan 2023-24

Throughout the year we offer art-based afterschool clubs (please contact our school office for the half termly timetable), including crafting, STEM clubs, cooking and baking and many more. We feel it is incredibly important to offer experiences beyond the curriculum. 

Exciting Upcoming Creative Events for the 24-25 Academic Year:

• For Remembrance Day 2024, Woodthorpe's children will complete a home art project of making any poppy art to decorate our lovely school and the local memorial.

• Whole school 'Take One Picture' project 2024/25 based on Pieter de Hooch, 'The Courtyard of a House in Delft'.

• Woodthorpe look forward to joining Bolsover Lantern Parade 2024 (30th November) for the third year in a row, where in school we provide every child the opportunity to make a lantern and invite our families to join us in this local display.

• A whole school trip is planned for Spring Term 2025 to visit Yorkshire Sculpture Park to launch our 3D Sculpture Week in school

Previous Years Design Technology Opportunities

• During Autumn Term 1 2023, Miss Bonwick and Miss May held a 'Craft Club' as an optional extra curricular activity for all ages. In this club, the children completed a sewing project where they made small cube cushions which they spent the time designing and sewing together. These had a little bell inside, and the children took so much pride in their creations.

• Bolsover Lantern Festival 2023 - Excitingly, Year 6 made Willow lanterns with an artist in school. The rest of the school made their own lantern with their teachers and were invited to the lantern parade on Saturday 2nd December. Many of our amazing Woodthorpe families attended, getting us into the Christmas spirit!

• In Spring Term 1 2023, Key Stage 1 made their very own beach huts. They have learnt about structures and frames, using wooden dowel, hacksaws, g-clamps, bench hooks. The children were really sensible learning about the rules for this and have been so enthusiastic about the topic that Mr. Windsor has agreed to purchase a life size beach hut for their outdoor area that they can interior design and decorate.

• In Autumn Term 2, Key Stage 2 enjoyed cooking club with Miss May and Miss Challinor, making pancakes, chilli con carne, pizza, stir fry, toffee apples and much more!

• In November, we worked so hard as a school to prepare for our involvement in Bolsover Lantern Parade on Saturday 26th November. All staff and children made a lantern out of bamboo using wired lighting and paper lanterns which they constructed following a set of instructions. All members of school had the opportunity to attend the parade at Bolsover Castle! Our older children helped our younger children with their creations and many of us took to the streets of Bolsover as a school community, lighting up the streets with our lanterns.

• During Autumn Term 2022, our brand new EYFS children have been looking at wheels and axels in their Marvelous Machines topic. We are so proud of them for all of their hard work!

• In December 2022, we are also proud to be taking part in the whole school designing and creating a Christmas Tree Decoration for St John the Baptist Christmas Tree Festival. These will be on display in the Church for families and children to see. We look forward to seeing our decorations on display there during our Christingle on Wednesday 21st December.

Great places to visit related to Design Technology in our local community:

• Chatsworth House Architecture: https://www.chatsworth.org/
• Sculptures at Chatsworth House: https://www.chatsworth.org/visit-chatsworth/chatsworth-estate/art-archives/devonshire-collections/sculpture/
  
  
• Yorkshire Sculpture Park: https://ysp.org.uk/visit
  
  
• Healthy living centre: https://www.chesterfield.gov.uk/sport-and-leisure/healthy-living-centre.aspx 
   
• Conkers: https://www.visitconkers.com/ 

 Click here to view the Primary National Curriculum for Design Technology.

Click here for some fantastic ideas from STEM to explore Design Technology at home.