Intent

At St Edward’s we believe that “Jesus is at the heart of all that we do” and this underpins our approach to Design and Technology. Through our teaching, we aim to nurture creativity, resilience and responsibility, enabling every child to use their God-given talents to design, create and innovate with purpose.

In line with the National Curriculum for Design and Technology, we intend for pupils to develop the knowledge, understanding and skills needed to engage in an iterative process of designing, making and evaluating. We provide opportunities for children to solve real and relevant problems, drawing inspiration from the world around them and considering the needs of others in a compassionate and thoughtful way. In doing so, we encourage pupils to reflect our Catholic values such as care, stewardship, perseverance and respect.

Our curriculum is designed to ensure that children:

• Develop creative and practical expertise to perform everyday tasks confidently and participate successfully in an increasingly technological world.
• Build and apply 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, reflecting on how they can improve their work with honesty and humility.
• Understand and apply the principles of nutrition and learn how to cook, promoting healthy lifestyles and awareness of caring for their bodies as part of valuing themselves as creations of God.

Rooted in our Catholic ethos, Design and Technology at our school promotes:

• Respect for creation through thoughtful use of materials and sustainable practices
• Collaboration and service, encouraging children to design with others in mind and contribute positively to their community
• Resilience and perseverance, recognising that learning from mistakes is an important part of growth

We aim for our children to leave primary school as confident, reflective and innovative learners who can apply their skills to make a positive difference in the world. Through Design and Technology, they understand that their ideas and actions matter and that they can use their talents to serve others, guided by our shared values and faith.

Implementation

Our Design and Technology curriculum is carefully structured to ensure progression in knowledge, skills and vocabulary across all year groups, in line with the National Curriculum.

• Curriculum Structure
  Design and Technology is taught through engaging, cross-curricular projects where appropriate, allowing pupils to make meaningful links with subjects such as science, maths, computing and art. Each project follows the key stages of:
  • Design
  • Make
  • Evaluate
  • Technical knowledge
• Progression of Skills
  Skills are built progressively from Early Years through to Key Stage 2, ensuring children revisit and deepen their understanding in areas such as mechanisms, structures, textiles, electrical systems and cooking and nutrition.
• Practical Learning
  Pupils are given regular opportunities for hands-on learning, enabling them to:
  • Investigate and evaluate existing products
  • Generate and communicate ideas through sketches, models and digital tools
  • Select and use appropriate tools and materials safely
  • Test and refine their products
• Vocabulary and Knowledge
  Key technical vocabulary is explicitly taught and revisited to support pupils in articulating their ideas clearly and confidently.
• Inclusive and Inspiring Teaching
  Teachers ensure lessons are inclusive and accessible to all learners, with appropriate scaffolding and challenge. Pupils are encouraged to take risks, be independent and reflect on their learning.
• Catholic Ethos in Practice
  Opportunities are embedded for children to reflect on how their work can serve others, care for the environment and demonstrate perseverance. For example, designing products for real users, considering sustainability, and working collaboratively with kindness and respect.

Impact

The impact of our Design and Technology curriculum is seen in the confidence, creativity and skills of our pupils.

Children at St Edward’s will:

• Demonstrate a secure understanding of the design process, including designing, making and evaluating
• Apply technical knowledge and skills with increasing independence
• Speak confidently about their work using appropriate subject-specific vocabulary
• Show resilience and a willingness to improve their work through reflection and evaluation
• Produce high-quality, purposeful products that meet design criteria

Pupils will also:

• Understand the importance of healthy lifestyles through cooking and nutrition
• Show respect for materials, tools and the environment
• Work collaboratively, valuing the contributions of others
• Recognise how their learning links to real-life contexts and future opportunities

Ultimately, children will leave primary school equipped not only with practical skills and knowledge, but with the confidence and moral purpose to use their talents to make a positive difference—living out the vision that Jesus is at the heart of all that we do.