Design Technology
🛠️ Design and Technology Curriculum
At Rectory C.E. Primary School, our Design and Technology curriculum is designed to spark creativity, curiosity, and problem-solving in every child. We believe that DT is a vital subject that empowers pupils to become innovative thinkers and resourceful learners, ready to tackle real-world challenges with confidence.
Through a carefully sequenced and progressive curriculum, pupils explore the full design process—from researching and planning to designing, making, and evaluating. They work with a wide range of materials and tools, developing practical skills and technical knowledge across key areas such as:
🧵 Textiles
🧁 Cooking and Nutrition
🧰 Mechanisms and Structures
⚙️ Electrical Systems
💻 Digital World and Programming
Intent
At Rectory C.E. Primary School, we believe that Design & Technology is an inspiring, practical, and creative subject that empowers pupils to understand and shape the world around them. In a society driven by innovation and rapid technological change, we aim to deepen children’s understanding of how products and ideas evolve to meet real-world needs.
Our curriculum is designed to spark curiosity and creativity, encouraging pupils to think critically, solve problems, and develop purposeful ideas. Taught cohesively alongside Art and Design, DT provides opportunities for children to explore the design process from concept to creation, always with a tangible outcome in mind.
Through our DT curriculum, we aim to help pupils:
✏️ Develop their design and making skills, using a range of tools, materials, and techniques
🤝 Work both independently and collaboratively in varied contexts, building resilience and teamwork
🔍 Evaluate products thoughtfully, including their own work, peer creations, and commercial designs
🥗 Understand nutrition and healthy eating, and learn essential cooking skills for life
We follow the National Curriculum as our foundation and deliver DT through blocked weeks every term, allowing pupils to immerse themselves in hands-on, project-based learning. Topics are carefully sequenced to build systematically on prior knowledge, with overarching concepts revisited across year groups to ensure progression and depth.
By nurturing creativity and practical skills, we prepare our pupils to become confident, capable designers and makers—ready to thrive in a modern, ever-changing world.
Implementation
We deliver DT through blocked weeks each half term, allowing pupils to fully immerse themselves in the design process—from initial ideas to final products. Our curriculum is organised around key areas:
🍽️ Cooking and Nutrition
⚙️ Mechanical Systems / Mechanisms
🏗️ Structures
🧵 Textiles
💡 Electrical Systems / Digital World (Key Stage 2 only)
Each unit is designed to develop a range of practical and technical skills, with a strong emphasis on health and safety. Risk assessments are in place across the school, and each year group is supported by a dedicated vocabulary list to strengthen subject-specific language and understanding.
We recognise that progression is not always linear. For example, in Year 2, we have intentionally included two Mechanisms units—Fairground Wheel and Making a Moving Monster—to build on the strong foundations laid in Year 1’s Structures: Constructing a Windmill. This ensures continuity and deepens pupils’ understanding of mechanical systems.
Our approach encourages both independent and collaborative learning:
🧠 Pupils are challenged to solve problems and take ownership of their learning, fostering independence and resilience
🤝 Team-based projects promote cooperation, communication, and shared responsibility as pupils work together toward common goals
Through this well-sequenced and purposeful curriculum, we aim to equip our pupils with the creativity, confidence, and critical thinking skills needed to become the designers, makers, and innovators of the future.
Impact
At Rectory C.E. Primary School, the impact of our DT curriculum is seen in the creativity, confidence, and problem-solving abilities of our pupils. Through engaging, hands-on projects, children develop a strong understanding of the design process—from planning and making to evaluating and improving.
By the end of Key Stage 2, our pupils:
🛠️ Apply technical knowledge and practical skills with increasing independence
🍽️ Understand the principles of nutrition and can prepare simple, healthy dishes
💡 Think critically and creatively to solve real-life problems
🤝 Work collaboratively, showing resilience, adaptability, and teamwork
📘 Use subject-specific vocabulary to explain their ideas and evaluate products thoughtfully
Our pupils leave primary school equipped with the skills, knowledge, and mindset to approach challenges with innovation and confidence—ready to thrive in an ever-evolving world.
Key Documents
