Design and Technology

Intent

At Willow Primary School, we ASPIRE to develop creative, confident and resilient designers who can design and make products that solve real and relevant problems. Our ambitious, knowledge-rich and practical curriculum inspires pupils to use their imagination, develop technical understanding and create purposeful products for different users and contexts.

Pupils develop progressive knowledge and practical skills across five key areas: Structures, Mechanisms, Electrical Systems, Textiles, and Food (Cooking and Nutrition). Through investigating, designing, making, evaluating and improving, pupils develop problem-solving skills and understand the importance of design and technology in everyday life and future innovation.

Aims

Through our Design and Technology curriculum, we aim for all pupils to:

  • Develop secure technical knowledge and practical skills across the five key areas.
  • Design, make, evaluate and improve products for specific purposes and users.
  • Develop creativity, problem-solving and critical thinking.
  • Select and use tools, materials and equipment safely and effectively.
  • Communicate ideas using sketches, diagrams and technical vocabulary.
  • Explore the contributions of designers, engineers, architects and chefs from diverse backgrounds and historical periods.
  • Make links with science, mathematics and computing and develop awareness of STEM careers.
  • Develop independence, collaboration, perseverance and resilience.

Implementation

Our progressive curriculum builds on prior learning from the Early Years Foundation Stage through to Key Stage 2. Design and Technology is taught every term through carefully sequenced projects covering all five areas:

  • Structures: Exploring materials, shapes and construction techniques to create strong, stable and functional structures.
  • Mechanisms: Using levers, sliders, linkages, gears, pulleys and wheels and axles to create movement.
  • Electrical Systems: Exploring electrical components and circuits to create functional products.
  • Textiles: Selecting, cutting, joining, sewing and decorating fabrics to create purposeful products.
  • Food (Cooking and Nutrition): Developing food preparation and cooking skills, understanding healthy diets, food origins, nutrition, hygiene and safety.

Pupils follow a consistent Design – Make – Evaluate process. They investigate existing products, respond to design briefs, develop ideas, select appropriate materials and techniques, and create products for specific users. Evaluation is ongoing, with pupils testing, reflecting on feedback and refining their designs to improve outcomes.

Technical knowledge and vocabulary are explicitly taught and revisited throughout projects. Pupils record their learning through research, design briefs, annotated sketches, patterns, making processes and evaluations. They also explore designers, engineers, architects and chefs from different cultures and periods of history.

Cross-curricular STEM learning enriches the curriculum. Our whole-school STEM Locomotive Project challenges pupils to design, build, test and improve locomotives. Pupils apply their understanding of structures, mechanisms, electrical components and programming, with older pupils exploring sensors, pulleys and programming logic.

Impact

By the end of Key Stage 2, pupils will:

  • Demonstrate secure technical knowledge and practical skills across all five areas.
  • Confidently design, make, evaluate and improve products for specific purposes and users.
  • Use tools, materials and equipment safely and effectively.
  • Communicate design decisions using accurate technical vocabulary.
  • Demonstrate creativity, independence, collaboration, resilience and problem-solving.
  • Understand the relevance of design and technology to everyday life and future STEM careers.
  • Take pride in their work and produce outcomes celebrated through displays and showcases. 

Pupils leave Willow equipped with the knowledge, practical skills and confidence to approach future challenges creatively and successfully.

If you would like to find out more about our Design and Technology curriculum or have questions regarding how it is delivered, please contact the school office or reach out to our Subject Lead at: admin@willow.elp.org.uk