Design and Technology

Miss Banks is our Design and Technology Leader.

"I enjoy teaching Design and Technology because it brings learning to life in a hands-on, meaningful way. Unlike subjects that stay mostly theoretical, Design and Technology allows children to turn ideas into real, physical outcomes. It is lovely to see creativity flourish, confidence grow, and problem-solving skills develop in real time. Lessons often feel dynamic and energetic, as pupils are actively designing, making, testing, and improving their work. Seeing children take pride in something they’ve created, especially those who thrive outside traditional academic subjects, is very special."

Miss Banks - Design and Technology Leader

Intent 

At St Andrew’s we aim to inspire pupils to become creative problem-solvers who can design, make and evaluate products that meet real and relevant needs. We aim to equip pupils with the knowledge, skills and understanding to engage confidently in an increasingly technological world. Through purposeful design contexts, pupils learn to think critically, take risks, and develop resilience as they refine ideas and learn from mistakes. We intend for all pupils to acquire a broad range of subject knowledge, including designing, making and evaluating in a variety of subject topics including cooking and nutrition, structures, mechanisms, electrical systems, textiles and the digital world. Our Design and Technology curriculum promotes creativity, independence, teamwork and responsibility, while encouraging pupils to consider the impact of design on users, society and the environment. By the end of year 6, pupils will have developed a secure foundation of practical life skills and an appreciation of engineering, design and innovation.

Implementation

Design and Technology is taught through a sequence of progressive units. Each unit is based around a clear design brief and follows the design, make, evaluate process. Pupils are given opportunities to research existing products, generate ideas, create designs, select tools and materials, and evaluate their outcomes against success criteria. Technical vocabulary is explicitly taught and revisited to support understanding and progression.

Pupils build on prior learning by revisiting key concepts such as mechanisms, structures, materials, textiles, and food technology, with increasing complexity and independence. Where appropriate, Design and Technology is linked with other subjects such as mathematics, science and computing. Teachers model skills, ensure tools and equipment are used safely, and adapt lessons to meet the needs of all children. Assessment is ongoing and formative, using observation, questioning and evaluation tasks to inform next steps.

Impact

The impact of our Design and Technology curriculum is that pupils develop the confidence and competence to design and make functional products using a range of tools, materials and techniques. Pupils can explain their design choices, evaluate their work thoughtfully, and identify improvements using appropriate technical vocabulary. They demonstrate creativity, perseverance and pride in their work, and understand that high-quality design often involves refinement and problem-solving.

By the end of Key Stage 2, pupils leave with a strong understanding of the design process and a secure set of practical and transferable skills that prepare them for secondary education and everyday life. They show an awareness of healthy eating, sustainability and the role of design and technology in the wider world. Most importantly, pupils enjoy Design and Technology and recognise it as a subject that values creativity and practical learning.