Design Technology
At Wellfield, 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 encourage children to become independent, creative problem-solvers and thinkers as individuals and as part of a team – making positive changes to their quality of life and others. It enables them to identify needs and opportunities and to respond to them by developing a range of ideas through iterative design. Through the study of Design and technology, children combine practical skills with an understanding of aesthetic, social and environmental issues. The subject embeds literacy skills through analysis and evaluation techniques.
“Recognizing the need is the primary condition for design.” –Charles Eames
We aim to, wherever possible, link work to other subjects such as mathematics, science, engineering, 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. Children learn about the social and ethical responsibilities of designers and engineers and the importance of managing finite resources with care.
“Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.” –Steve Jobs
“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.” –Albert Einstein
Food Technology at Wellfield
The intent of our food technology curriculum is to apply the principles of nutrition and healthy eating, instilling a love of cooking in all children. Learning how to cook is a crucial life skill for children now and in later life. Throughout their time at school, we aim to encourage independent learning through practical participation. We ensure that our children have a wider understanding of environmental impacts on our choice of foods and why there should be more encouragement to buy in season.
Our children learn about multicultural foods and experience how different cultural foods influence our everyday food choices. This enables our students to have a clear understanding of different religions and ethical beliefs and how these have influenced our western lives. Children also have a clear understanding relating to food choices and the impact on the environment relating to food waste.
Cooking is all about people. Food is maybe the only universal thing that really has the power to bring everyone together. No matter what culture, everywhere around the world, people eat together. “
Gui Fieri
In the Design Technology department, teachers at Wellfield know good teaching happens when pupils:
- Are creative and engaged
- Solve real and relevant problems
- Use the iterative design process and take risks
- Are making informed decisions to enable them to lead healthy lifestyle
- Learn about and materials, processes and tools
- Learn about the effect products have on the environment and people
- Make prototypes with using a range of materials
- Learn practical skills to help themselves in the future
- Apply knowledge from other subjects
- Learn to use a range of tools, machinery and equipment safely and hygienically
- Broadens minds about the world and people
- Apply knowledge and skills from other areas of the curriculum
- Analyse and evaluate existing products and influential designers
- Learn skills to use in a future job and about careers related to the subject
Design Technology and the 5Cs
Coherence
In Design Technology, learning builds on prior knowledge and practical skills, allowing progression of designing, making, evaluating and technical knowledge to deepen skills across and within each year group. Pupils will work through theory and practical sessions, gaining understanding and acquiring practical skills through various ‘focussed practical tasks’ and design and make activities.
Communication
Through the Design and Technology curriculum, children are able to develop skills in a variety of written and oral communication though annotated sketches, model making and making through a range of challenges. They can articulate and pitch their ideas to their peers, staff and outside agencies.
Creativity
Through a range of relevant, interesting and diverse topics pupils are encouraged to research and analyse products, to take risks and experiment with their own creative ideas.
Community
Community plays a large and diverse part of the design technology curriculum by giving pupils the opportunity to look at the impact of designs both past, present and future and how they influence our local, national and international community. They are encouraged through the research of new innovations and developments, to raise awareness of issues which help shape their futures by developing products that are relevant and have a positive impact on the environment.
Compassion
In Design Technology we encourage pupils to develop empathy for other cultures. We encourage them to help each other and work as a team and enable them to become as independent as possible in their future. We encourage pupils to think of the wider world with compassion and make informed choices.