Design and Technology
Design and Technology Policy
EYFS Design Technology Curriculum (Expressive Art and Design)
Year 1 Design Technology Curriculum
Year 2 Design Technology Curriculum
Year 3 Design Technology Curriculum
Year 4 Design Technology Curriculum
Year 5 Design Technology Curriculum
Year 6 Design Technology Curriculum
Our Approach
At St Philomena’s, we believe that design and technology provides pupils with opportunities to think creatively, solve problems and develop practical skills that prepare them for the world around them. Our curriculum is designed not only to develop technical knowledge and making skills, but to nurture confident, resourceful and imaginative learners who enjoy designing, creating and evaluating purposeful products.
We believe that every child can become a designer and maker. Through practical experiences, pupils develop the confidence to explore ideas, make informed choices, overcome challenges and take pride in their achievements.
Our Curriculum
Our design and technology curriculum is underpinned by the National Curriculum and carefully designed to ensure clear progression in knowledge, skills and techniques from EYFS to Year 6.
Learning is organised around six key strands: Structures, Mechanisms, Textiles, Food and Nutrition, Electrical Systems and Digital World. These strands are introduced and developed progressively, enabling pupils to build upon prior learning and apply their growing knowledge with increasing independence.
In EYFS, children develop the foundations of design and technology through exploration, construction, imaginative play and practical experiences. They learn to select and manipulate materials, use simple tools safely, join components and create products for a purpose. Opportunities to design, make, test and talk about their creations provide the foundations for more structured learning in Key Stage 1.
Across Key Stages 1 and 2, pupils follow a carefully sequenced curriculum built around the iterative process of designing, making and evaluating. They investigate existing products, develop and communicate ideas, acquire technical knowledge and apply practical skills to create purposeful products that meet specific needs.
As pupils progress, they develop an increasingly secure understanding of materials, structures, mechanisms, electrical systems, textiles, food and digital technologies. They learn to consider function, suitability, safety and sustainability, while evaluating and refining their work.
Beyond the Design and Technology Lesson
Design and technology is enriched through the wider life of the school, with opportunities for pupils to apply their creativity and problem-solving skills through practical projects, clubs and meaningful links across the curriculum.
Connections with science, mathematics, computing, art, geography and religious education enable pupils to recognise how design and technology contributes to everyday life and responds to real-world needs.
Through purposeful projects, pupils develop teamwork, resilience, independence and an understanding of how thoughtful design can improve the lives of others.
What We Want Pupils to Achieve
By the end of Year 6, we want pupils to have developed secure knowledge and practical skills across the six strands of design and technology. We want them to approach design challenges with confidence, generate and communicate ideas, select appropriate materials and techniques, and create functional products with increasing accuracy and independence.
We want pupils to evaluate their own work thoughtfully, recognise opportunities for improvement and understand how design and technology shapes the world around them.
Above all, we want pupils to leave St Philomena’s as confident, creative and resourceful young designers, equipped with the practical skills, technical understanding and problem-solving abilities to succeed in the next stage of their education.
Our Design and Technology Policy and curriculum documents provide further information about curriculum content, progression and expectations from EYFS to Year 6.
