NC Programme of Study Aims

The national curriculum for design and technology aims to ensure that all pupils: 

• develop the creative, technical and practical expertise needed to perform everyday tasks confidently and to participate successfully in an increasingly technological world 
• build and apply a repertoire of knowledge, understanding and skills in order to design and make high-quality prototypes and products for a wide range of users 
• critique, evaluate and test their ideas and products and the work of others 
• understand and apply the principles of nutrition and learn how to cook. 

Curriculum

At All Saints’, Design and Technology is a creative, practical and purposeful subject that encourages children to think like designers. We want pupils to be curious, resourceful and resilient: identifying problems, exploring possibilities and using their knowledge and skills to design and make products for a clear purpose and audience.

In the Early Years, children develop the foundations of designing and making through meaningful experiences across the seven areas of learning. Through exploring materials, building, creating and investigating how things work, children learn to make choices, develop ideas, use tools safely and evaluate their creations.

From Year 1 onwards, we use Kapow Primary to support the planning and progression of our Design and Technology curriculum. Pupils develop their knowledge and skills through a range of projects including structures, mechanisms, textiles, electrical systems and food and nutrition, with learning becoming increasingly sophisticated as children progress through the school.

At All Saints’, DT is taught in focused blocks, allowing children to become immersed in the design process and see a project through from initial idea to finished product. This gives pupils time to explore, practise new techniques, refine their ideas and develop their skills in greater depth.

The design–make–evaluate cycle is central to our approach. Children investigate existing products, consider the needs of the intended user, develop and communicate ideas, practise relevant skills, make purposeful products and evaluate their success against clear design criteria. We value the process as much as the final outcome, encouraging children to reflect, adapt, problem-solve and learn from mistakes.

Through our Christian vision and values, pupils are encouraged to think carefully about the choices they make, the needs of others and the materials and resources they use. We aim for children to leave All Saints’ as confident and imaginative designers and makers who are willing to experiment, persevere and improve.