What is our Philosophy?

At The Winchcombe School, our ambition for all our children is to become designers and thinkers where technology will be a tool they can use and a passion they will have which they carry into the next stage of their education. We aim to inspire our children by providing engaging and practical lessons which encourage creativity and imagination.

What is taught?

Children design and make products that solve real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts, considering their own and others’ needs, wants and values. They learn how to take risks, becoming resourceful, innovative, enterprising and capable citizens. Through the evaluation of past and present design and technology, they develop a critical understanding of its impact on daily life and the wider world.  Wherever possible, we aim to build upon a child’s prior knowledge and develop the skills, knowledge and vocabulary of the 5 main elements of Design Technology: Design, Make, Evaluate, Technical Knowledge, Cooking and Nutrition.  

How is it taught?

Design and Technology is taught in termly projects which are linked to a main theme for each term. Each project focusses on a whole school Design and Technology strand (Textiles, Mechanisms and Movement, Construction and Structures and Food and Nutrition) which develop sequentially in year and from year to year.

How is progress measured?

Progress is assessed each year against the following aspects:

• Generation of Ideas
• Technical Proficiency
• Knowledge and Understanding
• Inspiration from Design
• Evaluation

What does success look like at The Winchcombe School?

By the end of Year 6 children will:

• Understand how to generate, develop, evaluate, improve and communicate ideas for a range of contexts, users and purposes.
• Understand how to apply knowledge of techniques in the key areas of mechanisms and movement, textiles, construction and structures and food and nutrition, using materials and equipment safely.
• Understand the effects of technology on people’s lives and the wider world, taking inspiration from design throughout history.