Ofsted praises Nuffield Approach to torches

A school in Sefton showed what its pupils could do in design & technology by running the Nuffield primary solutions' unit 'What sort of light will work for you?' Year 6 Pupils had to design and make a lighting device to be used in a particular situation - reading under the bedclothes, signalling, lighting a tent. They did this as a 3-day immersion event during the inspection. How did the children do and what did the inspectors say?

"most pupils confidently put together an electric circuit that incorporated a switch. In discussion they demonstrated a good understanding of the properties of materials such as the effects of heating and cooling metals. They explained how a battery works and discussed the safety aspects of using electricity, explaining why for example they needed to use insulating tape rather than any other kind of tape"

"Improving work in design and technology is currently a whole school focus and the results of this initiative are clearly very effective. Pupils' past work in design and technology, such as the models in Year 4 and fridge magnets in year 3 are of a good standard. The work in progress in Year 6 is also good and pupils demonstrate a good understanding of design, plan, make and evaluate processes. Pupils also displayed high levels of independence and perseverance as they modified their products in the light of any difficulties that arose from working with their original designs."
"Excellent teaching was seen in design & technology in Year 6. What made this teaching particularly effective was the teachers' very good subject knowledge, a very brisk pace to teaching and very good organisation so that no time was lost and pupils' learning moved on at a very brisk pace." "There are some good examples of teachers making effective links between work in different subjects. For example, in Year 6 work on a design and technology project required pupils to apply their mathematical and scientific knowledge and skills to the process."

Nuffield D&T is delighted that the school was so successful is using Nuffield approach as the way forward for successful design & technology. The subject leader Suzanne Allen is to be congratulated.

Click on thumbnails below to see examples.