Design and Technology is an inspiring, rigorous and practical subject. It encourages children to learn to think and intervene creatively to solve problems both as individuals and as members of a team.

We encourage our children to use their creativity and imagination, to design and make products that solve real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts, considering their own and others’ needs, wants and values. DT links to many other disciplines such as maths, science, history, geography, computing and art ensuring that children learn through an holistic approach which allows them to make essential connections across the curriculum.   

Put simply, we want to ensure each and every child ‘can do DT’ and has the time and opportunities to be creative in their own unique way.

Our curriculum is: CYCLICAL as pupils return to the same skills again and again throughout the key stages. It focuses on: INCREASING DEPTH so that each time a skill is revisited it is covered with greater complexity. We also emphasize PRIOR KNOWLEDGE: returning to a skill, prior knowledge is utilised so pupils can build upon previous foundations, rather than starting again. All lessons in KS1 are based on one of four stands: Structures, Mechanisms, Textiles and Cooking and nutrition. In KS2 they also have the following strands: Electrical Systems, Digital World and Mechanical Systems. Each strand is taught to follow the process of Design, Make, Evaluate - all drawing upon technical knowledge. 

Put simply, the process associated with designing and making are robustly embedded supporting pupils learning and helping them to make their own choices and decisions.

Key skills and key knowledge for D. and T. have been mapped across the school to ensure progression between cycles. This also ensures that there is a context for the children’s work in Design and Technology; that they learn about real life structures/products and the purpose of specific examples, as well as developing their skills. Design and technology lessons are often taught as a block so that children’s learning is focused throughout each unit of work making best use of both time and resources. Each block provides opportunities to explore existing products, deconstruct them and then evaluate them. This allows the children to explore and discover the processes involved in making a product. Using this information the children then design their own products where they are encouraged to become innovators and risk-takers.

Put it simply our curriculum is progressive, it provides opportunities for the children to evaluate different products and to not be afraid to take risks.

Investigative work will include individual and collaborative learning experiences promoting a positive growth mind set, a sense of responsibility and challenges that take children beyond the classroom in-line with our whole school vision that ‘with God nothing is impossible’.

Put it simply we want the children to take responsibility for their own and others learning, developing a growth mindset in the process

We aim to excite the children through enquiry and open-ended STEM activities, visitors and trips. These provide opportunities for the children to draw on their previous knowledge and use what they know to solve problems. This allows the children to see where DT fits into daily life and understand that DT has changed our lives and the world in which we live. Experiencing first-hand accounts from people within industry, engineers and other professionals within appropriate fields provides the opportunity for the children to see that these people are just like them and that DT has an important role to play both now and in the future.

Put it simply the children understand the relevance of DT. Learning from experiences and real life role models allows children’s dreams and ambitions to grow so they are better prepared for the future.

The impact of our DT curriculum is that as pupils progress through school, they have a confident and valid set skills and knowledge supported by Christian values which can be used to not only further their education but help them in their life’s journey.

Put simply, they will learn more, remember more, enjoy more and develop more creatively, spiritually, socially and emotionally. Thus, enabling them to be ready for their next stage in education.