At Heathcote, we are committed to providing our pupils with exciting and meaningful learning opportunities to engage in Design & Technology. The National Curriculum for Design & Technology encompasses four key components: design, make, evaluate and technical knowledge. We meet these requirements by delivering a broad and balanced curriculum that ensures the progressive development of knowledge and skills across all year groups.
Our curriculum is creative and imaginative, enabling pupils to design and make products that solve real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts. Pupils learn to consider their own and others’ needs, wants and values, with the goal of designing purposeful, functional and appealing products based on clear design criteria.
Through this subject, children become informed and discerning users of products and are empowered to become innovative thinkers and problem solvers who can shape their environment thoughtfully and responsibly.
Implementation
At Heathcote, we will implement our aims by following the Cornerstones curriculum, whereby one D&T project is planned and undertaken each term. Each unit is based on a D&T focus of structures, mechanisms, cooking/nutrition or textiles. These units are well sequenced to ensure progression and full details of these can be found on our long-term and medium-term plans. Each project follows a clear structure, beginning with the introduction of key concepts that allow children to progressively build their knowledge and skills. During the ‘Develop’ stage, pupils engage in focused, practical tasks designed to equip them with the skills needed to complete their independent ‘Innovate’ projects. Finally, in the ‘Express’ stage, children refine their evaluation skills, reflecting on their work and outcomes. As pupils progress through school, they work with an increasingly comprehensive range of equipment and techniques, including building, cutting, joining, finishing and cooking, enhancing their practical abilities and confidence. Where possible, meaningful links to other areas of the curriculum have been made. For example, In Year Five, the cooking and nutrition project ‘Eat the Seasons’ is taught alongside the geography project Sow, Grow and Farm.
Throughout Key Stages One and Two, children build up their knowledge and understanding of the iterative design process. They design, make, test and evaluate their products to match specific design criteria and ensure they fit their purpose. Throughout the projects, children are taught to work hygienically and safely.
We monitor the impact of our D&T provision through planning checks, lesson observations, book looks and pupil and teacher voice. The creativity of all our pupils is celebrated in topic books, communal displays and published on our website and Tapestry journals.
Ongoing, formative assessment takes place throughout the year. Teachers use this information to inform future lessons, ensuring children are supported and challenged appropriately. Areas of curriculum strengths and weaknesses are analysed by the D&T lead and actions planned, with the agreement of the SLT, to address areas for improvement.
Impact
Our Design and Technology curriculum inspires creativity, practical skills and real-world learning. Across the school, pupils design, make, test and evaluate exciting products while developing confidence, problem-solving skills and technical understanding. Here are just some of the wow moments that make DT at our school special.
Year 4 – Viking Villagers at Compton Verney
Year 4 enjoyed an inspiring visit to Compton Verney as part of their Viking Villagers experience. Pupils sculpted expressive clay faces using specialist tools and techniques and explored food technology by baking their own bread. This immersive workshop brought history and design together, developing creativity and understanding of materials and processes.
Year 1 – Forest School Shelter Builders
In Forest School, Year 1 designed and built shelters using natural materials. Pupils explored structures, tested stability and worked collaboratively to improve their designs. This hands-on project developed early construction skills and introduced DT learning in a real-world environment.
Year 3 – Cook Well, Eat Well
Year 3 became confident young chefs during their Cook Well, Eat Well project. After making ratatouille, pupils designed balanced taco recipes, practised safe food-preparation skills and evaluated their final dishes. The project combined creativity, technical skill and healthy-eating knowledge.
Year 3 – Forest School Christmas Decorations
Year 3 created festive Christmas decorations using woodland tools and techniques in Forest School. Pupils used palm drills, secateurs and string to construct their designs, developing fine motor skills, tool handling and creativity.
Year 5 – Pneumatics: Moving Monsters
Year 5 explored pneumatics by designing and creating moving monsters. Pupils investigated how air pressure creates movement before building and refining pneumatic systems using syringes and tubing. This project brought engineering to life while developing problem-solving and technical understanding.
