{"id":8005,"date":"2023-05-05T13:25:00","date_gmt":"2023-05-05T12:25:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cornerstoneseducation.co.uk\/?p=8005"},"modified":"2024-10-31T12:45:14","modified_gmt":"2024-10-31T12:45:14","slug":"subject-leadership-in-the-primary-design-and-technology-curriculum","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cornerstoneseducation.co.uk\/subject-leadership-in-the-primary-design-and-technology-curriculum\/","title":{"rendered":"Subject leadership in the primary design and technology curriculum"},"content":{"rendered":"

Good subject leadership in primary design and technology<\/a> ensures an effective curriculum<\/a>, helps children to learn about the designed world and supports teachers in teaching the subject well. How a subject leader leads and manages the curriculum is also an integral part of an Ofsted inspection.<\/p>

In this blog, curriculum expert and Cornerstones Director Melanie Moore looks at the importance of design and technology<\/a> as a subject and the role of a primary school design and technology subject leader.<\/p>

\n \n\n
<\/div>\n <\/div>
The importance of design and technology<\/strong><\/h5>

Anything human-made has been designed and engineered in some way. Buildings, machines, computers, home products, fashion and homes are all examples of design and technology in the real world.<\/p>

Design and technology education involves three important elements: learning about the designed and made world, understanding how things work and designing and making functional products for particular purposes and users.<\/p>

Design and technology<\/a>, also known as DT, is a statutory subject for schools in England. It aims to develop children\u2019s creative, practical and problem-solving skills by designing, making and evaluating everyday and other human-made products. Moreover, it can develop critical skills in collaborative working and knowledge about keeping safe when creating and using products.<\/p>

The skills children learn in the subject can also support learning across the whole curriculum<\/a>. An effective design and technology curriculum should help develop children\u2019s knowledge of materials, systems, techniques and famous designers and engineers. Children should also begin to make links with other subjects, for example, materials in science, measuring in maths and design in art. It also has many valuable and natural interdisciplinary links with computing, particularly around the curriculum aspect of computer control. Most schools in England follow the national curriculum<\/a>, which includes design and technology as a compulsory subject at Key Stages 1 and 2. The statutory Programmes of Study are as follows:<\/p>

\n \n\n
<\/div>\n <\/div>

Key Stage 1 (ages 5-7)<\/strong><\/p>

In Key Stage 1, the main focus is on introducing the children to basic design concepts, tools and materials, including:<\/p>