Design Technology

Design Technology

Design and Technology at St Chad’s Catholic Primary School

At St Chad’s Catholic Primary School, Design and Technology provides pupils with opportunities to develop creativity, problem-solving skills and practical knowledge. Through designing and making purposeful products, pupils learn how ideas can be transformed into real solutions.

Rooted in our Catholic ethos, we encourage pupils to work collaboratively, show resilience when refining their ideas and take pride in creating products that serve a purpose. Design and Technology allows pupils to explore how innovation and creativity contribute to the wider world.

Intent

Our Design and Technology curriculum aims to ensure that all pupils:

• develop creative thinking and problem-solving skills
• learn how to design purposeful products for real users and contexts
• gain practical experience using a range of tools, materials and techniques
• understand the importance of evaluating and improving their work
• develop knowledge of key areas such as structures, mechanisms, textiles, food and nutrition and electrical systems.

The curriculum is carefully planned to build pupils’ knowledge and skills progressively as they move through the school.

Implementation

Design and Technology is taught through practical, engaging projects where pupils follow the design process of designing, making and evaluating.

Pupils begin by exploring existing products and identifying how they work. They then design their own solutions based on a clear design brief and specific design criteria. During the making stage, pupils learn to use tools and materials safely and accurately to create their product. Finally, pupils evaluate their work, considering how it could be improved.

Throughout the curriculum, pupils develop technical knowledge across a range of areas including:

• structures
• mechanisms
• textiles
• electrical systems
• cooking and nutrition.

Cooking and nutrition units help pupils understand the importance of healthy eating and develop basic food preparation skills.

Teachers explicitly teach key vocabulary so pupils can discuss their designs and evaluate their work using appropriate technical language.

Progression

In Early Years, children explore designing and making through play, using construction materials, joining techniques and creative materials to build and create.

In Key Stage 1, pupils begin to design simple products, learn basic joining techniques and explore simple mechanisms such as sliders and levers.

In Key Stage 2, pupils develop more advanced skills in designing and constructing products. They learn about structures, electrical components and more complex mechanisms, while refining their ability to evaluate and improve their designs.

This progression allows pupils to build confidence and technical understanding as they move through the school.

Impact

By the time pupils leave St Chad’s, they will have developed the confidence and practical skills needed to design and make purposeful products.

Pupils will be able to:

• generate and communicate design ideas
• select and use appropriate tools and materials
• evaluate and improve their work
• understand how design and technology contributes to everyday life.

The impact of the curriculum can be seen through pupils’ design work, finished products and their ability to discuss the design process with confidence.

Regular monitoring by the subject leader ensures the curriculum is delivered consistently and that pupils make progress in developing their design and technology knowledge and skills