Design Technology
Purpose of Study
Design and technology is an inspiring, rigorous and practical subject. Using creativity and imagination, pupils design and make products that solve real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts, considering their own and others’ needs, wants and values. They acquire a broad range of subject knowledge and draw on disciplines such as mathematics, science, engineering, computing and art. Pupils learn how to take risks, becoming resourceful, innovative, enterprising and capable citizens. Through the evaluation of past and present design and technology, they develop a critical understanding of its impact on daily life and the wider world. High-quality design and technology education makes an essential contribution to the creativity, culture, wealth and well-being of the nation.
INTENT
Through our computing curriculum at Whitechapel C of E Primary School we aim to give our pupils the life-skills that will enable them to embrace and utilise new technology in a socially responsible and safe way in order to flourish. Through teaching computing, we equip our children to participate in a rapidly changing world where work and leisure activities are increasingly transformed by technology. We want children to become autonomous, independent users of computing technologies, gaining confidence and enjoyment from their activities. We want the use of technology to support learning across the entire curriculum and to ensure that our curriculum is accessible to every child. Not only do we want them to be digitally literate and competent end-users of technology but through our computer science lessons we want them to develop creativity, resilience and problem-solving alongside critical thinking skills. We want our pupils to have a breadth of experience to develop their understanding of themselves as individuals within their community but also as members of a wider global community and as responsible digital citizens.
IMPEMENTATION
At Whitechapel C of E Primary School we use the Purple Mash Scheme of Work which covers all three areas of Computing; Computer Science, Information Technology and Digital Literacy and allows the children to build on these skills year on year.
EYFS demonstrate new technology and then this is followed up in provision giving the children the opportunity to consolidate and apply skills they have learnt. Lessons in Years 1 to 6 are carefully timetabled so that each class has access to an hour a week using a bank of laptops, iPads and coding resources.
Each year group cover all aspects of staying safe online appropriate to their age; developing online safety guidelines, social and emotional wellbeing and developing resilience, responsible internet use, keeping information safe, digital citizenship, playing games and having fun. These important aspects of online safety are every changing in this digital world therefore, any new risks to child welfare will result in extra lessons that inform, advise and educate our children linked closely with PSHE.
IMPACT
At Whitechapel Church of England Primary School through high quality teaching of computing, pupils will have the knowledge, understanding and skills to enable them to make informed safe choices, be responsible, competent, confident and creative users of information and communication technology. As they leave our school children will have had access to a wide variety of digital tools, technological skills and innovations to enable them to become informed members of the digital community.
Click here for curriculum mapping.