Design technology - Miss Jones 

At Waterside, we recognise that Design and Technology is a central part of our world. Through the teaching of Design and Technology, we aim to develop skills and knowledge in design, structures, mechanisms, electrical control and food. All our projects involve making functional products. It is a subject which nurtures creativity and innovation, drawing relevance from the world around us. Design and Technology is an exciting subject that has great relevance to the historical and modern world. Who knows, we could have the next great designer amongst us!

The school uses the KAPOW scheme to support their planning in design and technology.

Kapow Primary’s Design and technology scheme of work is built around the following six key areas:

• Cooking and nutrition: discovering where food comes from; creating a balanced diet; following kitchen hygiene and safety; developing preparation and cooking skills; following a recipe. 
• Mechanisms: using cams, followers, levers and sliders to mimic natural movements.
• Structures: learning about the properties of materials; improving a structure’s strength and stability; reinforcing structures.
• Textiles: using fabric techniques to fasten, sew and decorate.
• Electrical systems: creating electrical products using series circuits, circuit components, circuit diagrams and symbols.
• Digital world: programming products to perform tasks; developing 2D and 3D designs and models using CAD software.

During their time at Waterside, the children will get a chance to engage in all of these six key areas as a result of our carefully designed curriculum that aims to engage and inspire our pupils. As a school that follows a 'Healthy Schools' initiative, we also feel that it is important that the children experience cooking and nutrition as much as possible and therefore, they will undertake at least one cooking unit in each year group. We also provide opportunities to enrich and nuture children's love of designing through DT days, experiences and competitions.