Design and Technology gives children opportunities to design, make and evaluate products for a purpose. Children develop their ideas through practical activity, learning how to select and use appropriate materials, tools, techniques and processes.

Our Design and Technology curriculum develops progressively from Foundation through to Year 6. Alongside the process of designing, making and evaluating, children develop their technical knowledge of structures, mechanisms, electrical systems and textiles, as well as learning about cooking and nutrition.

Designing

Children begin in Foundation by selecting appropriate resources, using gestures and talk to communicate their ideas and constructing with a purpose in mind.

As they move through the school, children learn to generate, develop and communicate their ideas in increasingly sophisticated ways. They consider the purpose of a product and its intended user, use research to help inform their thinking and develop design criteria.

Children progress from simple drawings and models to using annotated sketches, prototypes, pattern pieces and computer-aided design to communicate and develop their ideas.

Making

Practical skills are an important part of Design and Technology.

From Foundation, children learn to construct with a purpose using a variety of resources, tools and techniques. They develop their ability to select appropriate materials and equipment and learn how different materials can be joined, shaped and combined.

As their skills develop, children learn to measure, mark out, cut, shape, assemble and join with increasing precision and accuracy. They make choices about tools, materials and components according to their functional properties and aesthetic qualities and develop greater independence in following their plans.

Evaluating

Children are encouraged to think about both existing products and the things they create themselves.

They learn to explore and evaluate products, considering aspects such as their purpose, materials, construction and intended user. As they progress, children consider how well products meet their design criteria and identify strengths and possible improvements.

By Key Stage 2, this develops into increasingly detailed evaluation and comparison, including consideration of the impact that significant individuals in design and technology have had on the world.

Developing Technical Knowledge

Children develop their understanding of how products are constructed and how different mechanisms and systems work.

Their learning includes structures, beginning with exploring how they can be made stronger and more stable. Children also encounter mechanical systems, progressing from mechanisms such as levers and sliders to more complex systems including gears, pulleys, cams and linkages.

As they progress through Key Stage 2, children also develop their understanding of electrical systems and apply their knowledge of computing to program, monitor and control products.

Textiles

Children learn to select and use textiles for different purposes.

They develop practical skills including measuring, cutting and joining textiles, while considering the suitability of different materials. As they progress, children develop their understanding of patterns, seams, joining techniques and three-dimensional textile products, making increasingly purposeful choices about materials and construction.

Cooking and Nutrition

Cooking and nutrition forms an important part of the Design and Technology curriculum.

Children learn about where food comes from and develop their understanding of a healthy and varied diet. They progressively develop practical food preparation and cooking skills and learn to use equipment safely and appropriately.

As children move through the school, they consider seasonality and where and how ingredients are grown, reared, caught and processed. They develop a wider range of cooking techniques, learn to adapt recipes and increasingly work independently when preparing and cooking food.

Design and Technology Curriculum Overview

Our Design and Technology curriculum overview shows how children's knowledge and skills develop from Foundation through to Year 6, including progression in:

• Designing
• Making
• Evaluating
• Structures and materials
• Mechanisms and electrical systems
• Textiles
• Cooking and nutrition

Please view our Design and Technology Curriculum Overview below to see the progression of learning across the school.