The following examples of work for gifted pupils are based on the QCA/DfES schemes of work for design and technology.

For some gifted pupils, it is appropriate to specify more demanding criteria by negotiating an individual design and make assignment (DMA).

You can review your current DMAs to:

identify which provide appropriate opportunities for more demanding criteria to be used with some pupils;

discuss with your teaching team what additional criteria could be added or what changes could be made;

discuss how to present this to the class and the individuals.

Year 4: Alarms

Design and make assignment -- Design and make an alarm that will protect something

A teacher negotiated this DMA with gifted pupils so that they worked with a valuable or delicate object in a situation that required an innovative rather than straightforward solution. For example, they designed an alarm to protect a museum exhibit that could be handled by visitors, but not removed from a defined area.

Year 9: Corporate identity

Unit 9C: Using ICT to link with the world outside school
Design and make assignment -- Corporate identity

Souvenirs and collectibles, for example T-shirts, 3D signs and models, are used to promote events, pop stars, cartoon characters and even schools. Design and make a coordinated range of promotional products for a special occasion or a client.

A teacher negotiated this DMA with gifted pupils so that they:

worked with a company outside the school that identified a challenging design specification and required that the products were not only innovative, but also thoroughly tested and of marketable quality

designed for an event that was not familiar and required rigorous research

negotiated the work directly with the company, working independently as far as possible

were ambitious in the range of products they chose and the ideas they presented, taking greater risks and coping with a greater number of variables

provided a business plan for the company, showing the production costs of the range and suggesting selling prices

made a presentation to the company showing prototypes and a business plan.

Schemes of work

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