Design & Technology

Curriculum Intent Statement

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We aim to ensure that our Design and Technology curriculum is an inspiring, rigorous and practical subject that encourages children to learn to think and intervene creatively to solve problems, both as individuals and as members of a team. By the end of Key Stage 4 we aim to ensure that our students have a good understanding of how products in their everyday lives are manufactured, from which material and why.

We encourage our students to use their creativity and imagination, to design and make products that solve real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts. We also aim to make links to designs and designers throughout history, providing opportunities for children to critically reflect upon and evaluate their designs.

We aim to, wherever possible, link work to other disciplines such as mathematics, science, engineering, computing and art. This gives the learning purpose and relevance.

As a department we are dedicated to creating opportunities for students to:

Work independently and in teams to produce creative and innovative design solutions to real world problems.
Apply knowledge and theory from DT and other related subjects (STEM) linking to the design and development of ideas.
Develop practical skills working with a range of tools, equipment and machines and with a variety of materials.
Use evaluation skills to critically assess their own work and that of others whilst considering the impact of these designs in the current world and the future.

Key Stage 3 Course Information

In Key Stage 3 Design Technology we take a Mastery approach to teaching, learning and assessment. In order to ensure that our students are ‘ready to progress’ to Key Stage 4 courses, we have produced a statement highlighting what students need to know, remember and be able to do to have 'mastered' the subject. It is against these that we assess. In students’ books and in their work we would expect to see evidence of revisiting concepts and content and students reflecting on their work and feedback from teachers. We would also expect to see evidence of the content and concepts students need to know - these will often be in the format of a knowledge organiser. This will be backed up with evidence of 'low stakes' testing so students can measure their own progress.

See our Curriculum map for further details on the content of the key Stage 3 course, which includes links to knowledge organisers. Here is the link to the ‘Ready to progress’ criteria.

Key Stage 4 Course Information

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Kay Stage 5 Course