Intent
At TGMS, we believe that Design and Technology forms a crucial part of our pupils' education and plays an extremely significant role in their learning. Our Design and Technology Curriculum develops our pupils' understanding of not only their own heritage but the cultural heritages of others too, through studying a diverse range of inspirational designers.

Our pupils develop their understanding of Design and Technology through effective teaching and detailed, sequenced lessons that offer a variety of experiences with different materials. Our high-quality Design and Technology Curriculum engages, inspires and challenges pupils, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to develop their creativity through a range of practical activities. At TGMS, pupils develop an awareness of how Design and Technology has shaped our history, and contributed to the culture, creativity and wealth of our nation. Our coverage stimulates creativity and promotes imagination within our safe nurturing environment.

Through our progression of skills, our carefully designed DT curriculum provides a variety of projects across the school, enabling our pupils to develop the process of designing and creating from the initial research stage all the way through to making the final product. This detailed process enables pupils to understand the process of Design and Technology with the world. During these projects, the pupils use different materials and practical processes. These include woodwork, sewing, pulleys, electrical circuits, Lego tech and cookery. Our pupils learn to develop their products into purposeful creations and delicious culinary delights.

Implementation

At TGMS, the skills and knowledge of each year group are clearly mapped to ensure growing progression as they progress through our school. These include opportunities to revise and revisit the use of various techniques so pupils can recall and apply skills and knowledge previously learnt. This emphasis on knowledge ensures that pupils understand the process of Design and Technology. Our cross-curricular approach enables strong links to our topics. Through this approach, our pupils develop a considerable knowledge of cultural food and designs as well as a range of different eras. Our focus on skills also means that pupils are given opportunities to express their creative imagination, as well as practise and develop mastery in the key processes of Design and Technology.

TGMS’s whole-school STEM week ensures that pupils' ability to design purposeful products is given high status while also enabling them to problem-solve issues that impact on the world around them. This is something that the pupils love and excel at through utilising their creativity as well as their awareness of how designers use different materials within their final products.

Our recent application for Artmark status, which is affiliated with the Arts Council England, will further focus on our pupils' Design and Technology skills whilst also encompassing the many other Arts we teach at TGMS. Our school’s high-quality Design and Technology Curriculum is supported through our availability to offer a wide range of quality resources, which are used to support pupils' confidence in the use of different materials and tools.

Impact

At TGMS, our pupils learn the following:

• Acquire an appreciation and enjoyment of the design process 
• Develop positive attitudes and a strong awareness of the process of designing 
• Demonstrate awareness of design, and how it links to the curriculum and the wider world
• Demonstrate their pride of their products through open classrooms, Italian cafe, classroom displays, school displays and online displays
• Develop their understanding of effective health and safety when working with a range of tools and equipment
• Develop their skills in using different tools and equipment
• Develop personal qualities, including perseverance, resilience, independent thinking, self-confidence and creativity through the production of purposeful products.

Assessment in DT is an ongoing process. Teachers will make informal judgements about pupil’s progress and attainment as they observe them throughout lessons and mark their work.

At the end of each term, teachers will decide on a pupil’s level of attainment, noting which children are: 

• Working below the age-related expectations (Emerging)
• Working towards the age-related expectations (Developing)
• Working at the age-related expectations (Secure)
• Working above the age-related expectations (Above)

These judgements will be made in line with the National Curriculum. Progress is closely monitored by the subject leader and senior leadership team. Monitoring includes lesson observations, learning walks, book and planning scrutiny. Other methods that we use are pupil voice interviews, staff meetings for teacher CPD and disseminating best practices.

The findings of this monitoring will be used to inform the next steps for the children and the implementation of DT across the school as a whole.