Intent

Our Design and Technology curriculum is designed to support our children to become responsible citizens, confident individuals and successful learners. We intend to ensure that all our children acquire the knowledge, skills and understanding in Design and Technology set out in the National Curriculum. We intend to inspire children to become creative thinkers, problem solvers and innovators through practical and purposeful learning experiences. Through designing, making and evaluating products, children develop resilience, independence and confidence in applying skills across a range of contexts.

Our curriculum encourages children to take risks, experiment with ideas and learn from evaluating and refining their work. We aim to ensure that children understand how Design and Technology impacts everyday life and contributes to the wider world through engineering, structures, mechanisms, textiles, electrical systems and food technology. We also intend to promote an understanding of healthy lifestyles, sustainability and the importance of considering the needs of users when designing products.

Implementation

Design and Technology is part of the Primary National Curriculum and is taught across all year groups through carefully planned and progressive units linked to our thematic curriculum. At Rockcliffe First School, children are provided with opportunities to investigate, design, make and evaluate products through meaningful and engaging contexts.

We use the National Curriculum and additional resources to ensure progression in the key areas of:

• Designing
• Making
• Evaluating
• Technical knowledge
• Cooking and nutrition

Lessons are planned to ensure children progressively develop practical knowledge, technical understanding and creative skills. Children explore existing products, generate and communicate ideas through annotated sketches and prototypes, and evaluate products against design criteria. Practical lessons allow children to safely use a range of tools, materials and equipment while developing accuracy and independence.

Our curriculum develops skills and progression through a wide range of Design and Technology experiences including:

• Structures – designing and constructing products such as bridges and mini greenhouses, exploring how to strengthen, stiffen and reinforce structures.
• Mechanisms – creating moving pictures, vehicles and catapults using sliders, levers, wheels, axles, pulleys and linkages.
• Textiles – designing and making products such as stockings and decorations using stitching, joining and decorative techniques.
• Electrical systems – creating and programming models using motors, switches, sensors and circuits.
• Cooking and nutrition – preparing and cooking a variety of predominantly savoury dishes while developing understanding of healthy eating, seasonality and where food comes from.

Children are encouraged to develop technical vocabulary and apply practical skills through hands-on learning opportunities. Units are linked to thematic topics including Roman Britain, Stone Age to Iron Age, Ancient Greece, Earth and Space and Sea and Shore, allowing children to apply their Design and Technology knowledge across the wider curriculum.

Impact

Through carefully planned and creative Design and Technology lessons, children develop the knowledge, skills and understanding needed to design and make purposeful products for a range of users. Children become increasingly confident in using tools, materials and equipment safely and accurately, while developing resilience and problem-solving skills through practical learning experiences. Children demonstrate enjoyment, creativity and pride in their work and can evaluate and improve their products thoughtfully.