Design and Technology lead - Mrs J Furze

 

"As Designers and Engineers, we design and create something, for someone, for a purpose."

 

"Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere." — Albert Einstein

 

The National Curriculum for Design and Technology can be found following this link below:

National Curriculum - Design and technology key stages 1 to 2

Intent

At Eastover Primary School, we aim for every child to become a creative, confident and resilient designer who can solve real-life problems through practical learning. Our curriculum encourages pupils to think imaginatively, develop practical skills and apply knowledge from across the curriculum to design, make and evaluate purposeful products.

We develop creativity, curiosity and problem-solving skills while teaching children to design for a specific user and purpose. Pupils build practical skills using a range of tools, materials and techniques, and learn that testing, refining and even making mistakes are essential parts of the design process. Through engaging projects, children gain knowledge of structures, mechanisms, textiles, food and nutrition, and electrical systems, and are inspired by influential designers and inventors.

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Implementation

The Design and Technology curriculum is carefully planned to ensure progression from Reception to Year 6.

Pupils follow a clear design process:

• Investigate and evaluate existing products
• Design with a purpose and intended user
• Develop technical knowledge and skills
• Make products using appropriate tools and materials
• Evaluate outcomes and suggest improvements

Children take part in a wide range of projects and develop practical skills through regular hands-on experiences. They learn to use tools safely and apply knowledge from subjects such as mathematics, science, computing and art. Their design journey is recorded in DT books, showing progression and reflection.

Teaching combines collaboration and independent problem-solving, helping pupils to communicate ideas, take risks and build resilience.

Impact

By the end of Year 6, pupils are confident, capable designers and makers.

They can:

• Design and create products with increasing independence and creativity
• Apply technical knowledge across different contexts
• Use tools safely and accurately
• Evaluate and improve their work thoughtfully
• Show resilience when solving problems

Evidence of impact is seen in the quality of pupils’ work, their use of technical vocabulary and the clear progression in their DT books. Most importantly, pupils leave Eastover with enthusiasm for designing and making, and the confidence to approach challenges creatively.

Oracy in Design and Technology

At Eastover Primary School, we recognise that talk is an essential part of learning in Design and Technology. Through purposeful discussion, children develop the confidence to communicate ideas, explain their thinking, solve problems collaboratively and reflect on their learning.

Throughout Design and Technology lessons, pupils are encouraged to:

• Share and justify their design ideas using appropriate technical vocabulary.
• Discuss the needs of a user and explain how their designs meet a specific purpose.
• Work collaboratively to plan, build and improve products, listening respectfully to the ideas of others.
• Ask thoughtful questions and offer constructive feedback to help refine designs.
• Evaluate products by explaining what worked well and suggesting improvements using evidence from testing.
• Present and celebrate their finished products, confidently explaining the design process from initial idea through to evaluation.

By embedding oracy within Design and Technology, we help children become confident communicators, reflective learners and effective collaborators. These skills not only enhance their design thinking but also prepare them for future learning and life beyond the classroom.

Long term plan across the school

Progression of skills and knowledge 

The progression of skills and knowledge across the school can be found in the attached documents below.