Intent

At Edale Rise Primary and Nursery School, our Design and Technology curriculum develops creative, practical and reflective learners who understand the importance of design in the modern world. Rooted in our vision of improving life chances through knowledge, we aim to inspire pupils to become innovative thinkers who can take risks, solve problems and develop ideas from concept through to creation and evaluation.

Our curriculum ensures full coverage of the National Curriculum and supports pupils to develop the skills needed to become resourceful, enterprising individuals. Pupils gain an understanding of how design and technology shapes everyday life while considering the needs of users and the wider world. Opportunities to engage with real-life contexts and professionals further enrich learning and prepare pupils for future pathways.

Implementation

Design and Technology is taught through a progressive, structured curriculum built on four key strands:

• Design
• Make
• Evaluate
• Technical knowledge

Learning follows the design process, enabling pupils to respond to meaningful design briefs and real-life scenarios. The curriculum is organised into six key areas, which are revisited in a spiral model to build increasing depth and complexity:

• Cooking and nutrition
• Mechanisms and mechanical systems
• Structures
• Textiles
• Electrical systems (KS2)
• Digital world (KS2)

Lessons are practical, engaging and varied, combining hands-on tasks, collaborative projects and problem-solving opportunities. Knowledge organisers support the acquisition of key vocabulary and concepts, ensuring learning is both knowledge-rich and purposeful. Teaching is inclusive, with adaptations and support in place to ensure all pupils, including those with SEND, can achieve and succeed. Each year, pupils complete three design projects, allowing sustained and meaningful engagement with the subject.

Impact

Through our Design and Technology curriculum, pupils develop the confidence, skills and knowledge to design and create purposeful products. They understand the properties of materials, use tools safely and effectively, and apply their learning to meet the needs of users and specific design challenges.

Assessment is both formative and summative, enabling teachers to monitor progress, support all learners and ensure strong outcomes across the curriculum. Pupils are encouraged to evaluate their work and reflect on improvements, developing independence and critical thinking.

By the end of primary school, pupils will:

• Design and create innovative, high-quality products for a range of purposes
• Apply practical and technical skills across a range of materials and disciplines
• Understand healthy eating, nutrition and food preparation
• Recognise the impact of design decisions on the environment and wider society
• Evaluate their work effectively and use feedback to improve
• Be well prepared for further study in Design and Technology at Key Stage 3