Design Technology
Subject Lead – Caitlin Webster
Design Technology Progression Map
Design Technology
Design and Technology (DT) is a creative and practical subject that prepares our pupils to participate in a rapidly changing world. We aspire for all children to enjoy the process of designing, making and evaluating – developing the expertise required to solve technical challenges and address everyday needs. By combining practical skills with an understanding of aesthetics and functionality, our children become resilient, independent, and collaborative problem-solvers.
- Early Years: Through continuous provision and play, our youngest learners develop essential early skills. They explore assembling, cutting, measuring, and estimating using a variety of construction materials and tools, providing a secure foundation for the years ahead.
- Structured Progression (KS1 & KS2): As children progress, DT projects link to year-group themes, becoming more complex. Children learn to identify needs and wants, responding to them by developing innovative ideas and systems.
- Cooking and Nutrition: Across the schools, we value the importance of food technology. In our dedicated kitchen spaces, pupils learn the principles of basic nutrition and develop the vital life skill of cooking.
The Core Pillars of Design & Technology
Our curriculum is built upon four fundamental pillars that guide every project from conception to completion:
Pillar | Focus | What it looks like in the classroom |
Design | User & Purpose | Children research past and present designs to inspire their own. They develop design criteria, identifying who the product is for and what problem it solves. |
Make | Skills & Tools | Children select from a wide range of tools and materials. They learn to handle equipment safely and effectively, developing practical expertise in textiles, structures, mechanisms, and electricals. |
Evaluate | Critique & Improve | Testing is central to our curriculum. Children reflect on their work, critiquing their own ideas and products against the original design criteria to understand how they can be improved. |
Technical Knowledge | How it Works | Beyond the look of a product, pupils study the how. This includes understanding how to make structures stronger, how to use linkages and levers, and how to program computer-based systems. |
By following the process of Investigate, Design, Make, and Evaluate, our children learn that failure is often a stepping stone to success. They leave our schools with the ability to:
- Identify opportunities for innovation in the world around them.
- Use a range of technical tools with confidence and safety.
- Apply mathematical and scientific knowledge to real-world problems.
- Reflect critically on the impact of technology on society and the environment.
Useful Links
Design and Technology Association – information about DT curriculum and design process
BBC Bitesize – Age appropriate support and guidance for DT