Design and Technology at Beaminster St Mary’s Academy

At Beaminster St Mary’s Design and technology is a fun and engaging subject that helps to prepare children for the developing world. The subject encourages children to become inquisitive and creative problem solvers, both as individuals and as part of a team. Through the study of design and technology, they combine practical skills with an understanding of aesthetic, social and environmental issues. Design and technology helps all children to become informed consumers and potential innovators. It should assist children in developing a greater awareness and understanding of how everyday products are designed and made.

At St Mary’s, we follow the ‘Design, Make, Evaluate’ approach to the teaching of DT, as outlined in the National Curriculum Programmes of Study. At the beginning of each project, the children are given opportunities to explore existing products and their components, which helps to inform the design stage of their project. During the design stage, they will devise their own design criteria, be encouraged to draw detailed designs and make prototypes where appropriate. Whilst making their products, staff will guide them through the technical skills they will require, modelling good practice and highlighting safety considerations with the children. Through the evaluation stage, children are encouraged to reflect upon their final products against their original design criteria, considering the views of others and how they could have altered their design or techniques to impact the overall appearance and successfulness of their product.

All of our subjects include the same curriculum drivers, these are:

Curiosity

• We aspire for pupils to embrace challenge with a growth mindset and show curiosity, independence and resilience in all that they do.

Admiration

• We aspire for pupils to become wise, respectful learners.

Communication

• We aspire for pupils to become emotionally mature with a depth of language that enables them to share ideas effectively.

Worldly

• We aspire for pupils to become emotionally literate, tolerant, and appreciative of an ever-changing global environment.