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A STATEMENT OF INTENT
Design & technology surrounds us in every aspect of our lives, be it at home, school, recreation or leisure. The rapid changes and developments that are constantly influencing the way in which we live and behave impact upon the nature of the curriculum within this subject. Design Technology at Westbury School aims to provide a basis for understanding, appreciating and acquiring the knowledge, skills, processes, materials, the complexities and diversities that comprise this technological age.
In the context of Westbury School, the term "Design Technology" encompasses Design and Realisation, Food Technology, Textiles, Information Technology, Control Technology, Graphics and Electronics.
At the heart of the curriculum lies the active designing and making process. The varying teaching approaches will reflect the need for success within a challenging but balanced programme of study. Our principal point of emphasis will be to provide this within a safe and caring environment in which academic and practical achievement is highlighted and self-esteem is enhanced. The value of technology will not rest solely with the end product but equally with the knowledge, skills and experiences which are acquired along the way. A child-centred approach which caters for individual interests, motivation and needs will be adopted as far as is possible. All this will take place within the guidance and boundaries of the National Curriculum. Projects and tasks will encourage work in different contexts through investigation and experimentation, whilst exploring different materials and environmental issues.
Regular assessment must ensure that progression, continuity and standards are constantly tracked and recorded in order to establish a solid platform for developing future learning targets. Equal access to all aspects of the technology curriculum will be provided, thus helping to break down the traditional stereotyping of materials, environments and tasks.
Many of the pupils who attend Westbury School will have experienced a degree of educational failure elsewhere. Success at the appropriate level must be achieved initially in order to allow the learning process to develop. Technology is an ideal curriculum vehicle for this to be achieved and encourages not only opportunities for the development of important skills but also allows individuals to express their individuality within an environment that can be guided and supported.
POLICY DOCUMENT
Creative learning occurs successfully when pupils are actively involved in the process, and technology allows this whilst dealing with the problems and issues which surround us in real life. The value of technology activities does not lie solely with the end product but also with the knowledge and the skills acquired during the learning experience. By involving the pupils in the decision-making for the design and making of the tasks we allow for independence and ownership of their learning which can be applied across the curriculum. Cross-curricular skills and knowledge will be planned for and will be located within the components of Science, Maths, Language, IT and Art.
Technology capability will be developed in our pupils by:
1. The use of their own imagination and experiences to generate ideas which will have relevance to their lives.
2. Developing skills and knowledge which will allow these ideas to be investigated and explored through drawing, model-making, talking, writing, researching, analysing and working with materials.
3. Identifying
These skills and concepts will be developed through set tasks and pupils ideas which can be stimulated by use of the pupils’ own experiences, needs and by the stimulus of their own environment. The activities will be differentiated by input and/or expected outcomes and will be carefully chosen to ensure success within the varying abilities whilst providing rigour and challenge to the capabilities of the individuals in a continuous and progressive way.
The technology curriculum will be continuously assessed and opportunities will be given for the pupils to assess their own work and to evaluate the outcomes achieved by others. Assessment will take place within the framework of the school’s established policy and will give a clear indication of the experiences which have been learnt and understood. The assessment will also give a concluding summative record of the progress achieved by individual pupils in relation to the National Curriculum. Assessment is essential in order to ensure that continuity and progression are an established factor within the curriculum and also to ensure the development of future educational plans for the pupils within the subject.
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