“Design is a funny word. Some people think design means how it looks. But of course, if you look deeper, it’s really how it works.” - Steve Jobs

Intent

At Oakridge, Design Technology offers children the chance to use creative thinking and design within a defined purpose and tangible outcome. As a subject, it combines skills, knowledge, concepts and values to enable children to tackle real problems.

Through a variety of creative and practical activities, pupils are taught the knowledge, understanding and skills needed to engage in a process of designing and making. They work in a range of contexts through our topic based approach which allows for cross curricular links to be made.

Our aims in the teaching of design and technology are to allow pupils to:

•             Develop design and making skills.

•             Develop knowledge and understanding.

•             Use a wide range of tools and materials.

•             Learn about health and safety and protective measures.

•             Work individually and within a group in a variety of contexts.

•             Develop the capability to create products of a high standard through skills and understanding.

•             Promote creativity and innovation.

•             Explore the man-made world and encourage discussion of how we live and work within it.

•             Develop an interest in and understanding of technological processes and the role of manufacturing in society.

•             Learn the principles of nutrition, healthy eating and how to cook.

Implementation

We have designed a progression of skills for 4 key areas of design and technology; structures, mechanisms, textiles and food and nutrition. The teaching of the Design Technology National Curriculum at Oakridge, follows these through the use of Design and Technology Association's 'Projects On A Page' documents. Children design products with a purpose in mind and an intended user of the products. Food technology is implemented across the school with children developing an understanding of where food comes from, the importance of a varied and healthy diet and how to prepare this. We have our own allotment which gives the children real life experiences of food production and how food gets from the ground to the dinner table.

Design and Technology in Oakridge requires children to design and make products that solve real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts. It is cross - curricular and draws upon subject knowledge and skills within Mathematics, Science, History, Computing and Art. Children learn to take risks, be reflective, innovative, enterprising and resilient.

Impact

We believe that creativity and problem-solving skills are vital for an ever-changing world.

We aim for our pupils to leave Oakridge well-prepared for the future by;

•Having developed their imaginations through their own designing and having been inspired by the designs of others.

•Having built resilience through overcoming challenges during the making process and from evaluating and improving their products

•Be able to transfer their skills to real world challenges and find solutions to everyday problems at home and in their communities

•Have the skills needed to work both individually and collaboratively on a project brief

•Have the self-confidence to believe that they can follow a career path in engineering, science and wider STEM areas, should they want to.

Irrigation Project

Cookery

Community Knit

Dry Stone Walling