Design & Technology
Empowering young designers to explore, create and innovate through purposeful design, practical problem-solving and reflective thinking.
Intent
At our school, we believe Design and Technology provides children with the opportunity to become creative thinkers, problem solvers and innovators. Through practical and engaging experiences, pupils learn how products are designed, made and improved to meet the needs of users and solve real-world problems.
We aim for all children to:
· Develop confidence in designing, making and evaluating products.
· Understand the importance of the design process through the cycle of explore, plan and design, build and evaluate.
· Apply knowledge and skills across a range of contexts and disciplines.
· Become resourceful, resilient and reflective learners who are willing to take risks and learn from mistakes.
· Develop practical skills in structures, textiles, mechanisms, cooking and nutrition, digital world and electrical systems.
· Understand how design and technology shapes the world around them and influences everyday life.
Implementation
Design and Technology is taught through the Kapow Primary Design and Technology Scheme, which we have chosen because it closely reflects our school’s pedagogical approach and curriculum vision. Like our wider curriculum, Kapow follows a spiral approach, enabling pupils to revisit key knowledge and skills, build on prior learning and deepen their understanding over time. This supports our commitment to helping children make meaningful connections between new and previous learning and develop secure, long-term understanding.
We have chosen Kapow because it places the design process at the heart of learning, encouraging pupils to research, design, make and evaluate purposeful products. Through engaging with real-life design challenges, pupils develop creativity, critical thinking and problem-solving skills while applying their knowledge in meaningful contexts.
We have also chosen Kapow because it promotes collaboration, discussion, investigation and reflection, supporting our aim to develop independent, resilient learners.
Learning is organised around six key areas:
· Structures
· Textiles
· Mechanisms
· Cooking and Nutrition
· Digital World
· Electrical Systems
Each unit follows the design process of exploring, planning and designing, building and evaluating, enabling pupils to develop both practical skills and technical knowledge.
Assessment is ongoing through observation, questioning, discussion and evaluation of pupils' design work. Teachers assess children's ability to apply the design process, develop technical knowledge and evaluate their products, using Kapow assessment guidance to support progression.
Impact
Children leave our school as confident and capable designers who can think creatively, solve problems and reflect on their learning.
They:
· Demonstrate progression in design, making and evaluation skills.
· Apply technical knowledge effectively across a range of projects.
· Design and create purposeful products that meet specific criteria.
· Evaluate their work thoughtfully and identify ways to improve it.
· Show resilience, creativity and independence when tackling design challenges.
· Understand how Design and Technology contributes to everyday life and future innovation.
Our pupils develop the knowledge, skills and confidence to become innovative thinkers and successful problem-solvers in an ever-changing world.
