Four Oaks Primary School

At Four Oaks we are designers and technologists! We want our children to love design and technology. We want them to have no limits to what their ambitions are and grow up enabled to become engineers, graphic designers, architects or chefs. We want them to embody our core values: we all “strive to be the best we can be”. We want our children to remember their design and technology lessons in our school, to cherish these memories and embrace the opportunities they are presented with!

During the Autumn term, our Year 5 children learnt how to create complex mechanisms using linkages and levers. They used these mechanisms to create a moving toy aimed at Key Stage One children. Before beginning the project, Year 5 met with Year 2 children to gather market research about what types of interactive toys they enjoyed playing with. Year 5 were then able to apply this research information to produce outstanding moving toys with complex mechanisms. They then had the opportunity to re-visit Year 2 with the final product and allow them to interact with and enjoy the toys. All the children thoroughly enjoyed this opportunity with one child commenting, “I loved seeing the Year 2 children testing out our moving toys after we had worked so hard on them. I am glad that they enjoyed them!” Bringing design and technology alive is important at Four Oaks Primary School.

The design and technology curriculum promotes curiosity and a love and thirst for learning. It is ambitious and empowers our children to become independent and resilient – like all curriculum areas.

We want to equip them with not only the minimum statutory requirements of the design and technology National Curriculum but to prepare them for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of later life. During the summer term, year 6 will be making their own snack for and end of year party using their knowledge of budgeting! Each child will take ownership of a recipe to make and bring to the party. Children will practise preparing and cooking food, whilst broadening their knowledge of where various ingredients come from as well as the cost of ingredients. We are excited about this opportunity to raise enthusiasm for cooking coupled with knowledge of the principles of nutrition and healthy eating thus supporting our SMSC curriculum. Our SMSC curriculum, with Four Oaks’ British ‘Golden’ Values at the heart of everything we do, often feeds into the design and technology curriculum.

We teach them to be inspired by real world opportunities and relevant problems, identifying needs, and developing a range of ideas and solutions in a variety of contexts. By researching past and present technologies, and applying knowledge learnt across other areas of the curriculum, children build their confidence, resilience, practical and analytical skills. They learn to overcome challenges and improve designs and products, all the while finding motivation and discovering meaning for their learning.

We enrich the children’s time in our school with memorable experiences and provide opportunities which may otherwise be out of reach. We firmly believe that developing well rounded, lifelong learners is not just about what happens in the classroom, it is about the added value we offer that will really inspire our children. 

In Design and Technology, we implement a curriculum that is progressive throughout the whole school. Design and Technology is taught over three half terms per year, focusing on knowledge and skills stated in the National Curriculum. This helps to ensure sufficient time is allocated to Design and Technology and that subject matter can be revisited. We believe that by crafting our curriculum this way, we improve the potential for our children to consolidate what they have been taught, to alter their long-term memory and thus improve the rates of progress they make.

The Design and Technology curriculum at Four Oaks Primary School is based upon the 2014 Primary National Curriculum in England, which provides a broad framework and outlines the knowledge and skills taught in each Key Stage. Teachers plan lessons based on both the required curriculum coverage and the children’s interests. A variety of teaching approaches are used based on teacher judgement, ensuring progression of skills and knowledge from year group to year group. Design and Technology teaching focuses on enabling children to think as designers and technologists. Design and Technology projects are delivered with a clear structure showing clear following of the design and technology process where each project with follow: research, design, make and evaluate. Each year group will undertake a textile topic, a food/drink topic, and mechanisms/structures.

Design and technology provides opportunities to enhance the learning of all pupils as it encourages them to draw on disciplines such as mathematics, science, engineering, computing and art. Children may have to solve problems and develop their learning independently. This allows the children to have ownership over their curriculum and lead their own learning in Design Technology

At Four Oaks Primary School we provide a variety of opportunities for design and technology learning inside and outside the classroom. For example, some of our children and their families have had the chance to take part in an after-school Healthy Cooking club run by an expert. Children are given recipes and step by step instructions on how to make healthy savoury and sweet dishes. They can then share what they have produced with the rest of the class and hand over the recipe cards and any advice they may have. “I had so much fun learning how to cook different meals, we even got to make healthy kebabs that my family also made at home. We loved them!” commented a year 4 child. These real-life experiences and opportunities give children the confidence to develop their skills and create an interest in food and cooking.

We develop the following essential characteristics of designers and technologists:

• Show originality and the willingness to take creative risks to produce innovative ideas and prototypes.
• A positive attitude to learning and independent working and passion for the subject and knowledge of up-to-date technological innovations in materials, products and systems.
• The ability to use time efficiently and work constructively and productively with others.
• The ability to carry out thorough research, show initiative and ask questions to develop a detailed knowledge of users’ needs.
• The ability to act as responsible designers and makers, working ethically, using finite materials carefully and working safely.
• Knowledge of which tools, equipment and materials to use to make their products.
• The ability to apply mathematical knowledge and skills accurately.
• The ability to manage risks well to manufacture products safely and hygienically.
• The ability to act as responsible designers and makers, working ethically, using a range of materials carefully and working safely.
• A passion for the subject and a desire to explore their learning further in the future.