Design and Technology
At Woodsetts Primary School, we believe in the power of design and technology to spark creativity, inspire innovation, and solve real-world challenges. Our students are encouraged to explore, invent, and bring their ideas to life, building the skills and confidence to design with purpose and create with care. From imagining possibilities to mastering techniques, we nurture resilience, collaboration, and critical thinking every step of the way.
Intent
At Woodsetts Primary School, our Design and Technology curriculum reflects our vision of "WE CARE" by fostering creativity, resilience, and innovation in our students. We aim to inspire children to explore, design, and create products that address real-world challenges while promoting collaboration, problem-solving, and critical thinking.
Through a carefully structured curriculum, children develop practical skills in areas such as mechanisms, structures, textiles, food, and electronics, enabling them to confidently plan, create, and evaluate their projects. From their early explorations in EYFS, where they engage in hands-on activities such as designing and making boats, to their mastery of key concepts in Key Stages 1 and 2, students build a solid foundation for future challenges.
The five key concepts of Designing, Making, Evaluating, Technical Knowledge, and Cooking and Nutrition are woven throughout the curriculum, ensuring depth and progression in learning. Our thematic approach links Design and Technology to other curriculum areas, including history, geography, and novel studies, providing meaningful contexts for learning and creating memorable moments that “stick.”
Knowledge organizers and vocabulary progressions support children in building "sticky" knowledge, while termly lessons allow for the consistent practice of skills and techniques. Teachers use skills progressions, long-term overviews, and assessment tools to ensure every child develops mastery over time. Assessment is ongoing, culminating in final projects and end-of-unit quizzes, with outcomes documented in dedicated DT books and through photographs of children’s work.
Through Design and Technology at Woodsetts, we nurture confident, competent designers and makers who are equipped to embrace challenges, think creatively, and contribute to the world with innovation and care.
Implementation
At Woodsetts Primary School, Design and Technology is implemented through a carefully structured curriculum that provides children with opportunities to develop creativity, practical skills, and problem-solving abilities. Our approach is rooted in our vision of "WE CARE," ensuring every child is supported to explore, design, and create with purpose and innovation.
Each year group engages in three focused Design and Technology units per year, covering key areas such as mechanisms, structures, textiles, food and nutrition, CAD, and electricity. Lessons are taught in termly blocks, ensuring consistent and meaningful progression of skills and knowledge. In EYFS, Design and Technology is introduced through continuous provision in creative and construction areas and project-based activities like designing and making boats.
Key concepts—Designing, Making, Evaluating, Technical Knowledge, and Cooking and Nutrition—are woven throughout the curriculum. These concepts ensure that children not only acquire practical skills but also develop an understanding of the broader role of design and technology in the world. Teachers are provided with skills progressions, vocabulary progressions, and knowledge organizers to ensure a consistent approach and to help children build "sticky" knowledge that lasts.
Children's learning is recorded in dedicated Design and Technology books and through photographic evidence of their projects. Each unit begins with a knowledge organizer to introduce key vocabulary and concepts, while final projects provide an opportunity for children to demonstrate their learning and skill development. Assessment is ongoing, with teachers using memory questioning, plenaries, and quizzes to gauge understanding. Outcomes are measured against a six-point PITA scale, ensuring children are supported to reach their full potential.
By linking Design and Technology to other subjects, such as geography, history, and novel studies, we provide meaningful contexts for learning and reinforce connections across the curriculum. This thematic approach helps children see the relevance of their work and creates memorable, impactful learning experiences.
At Woodsetts Primary, our implementation of Design and Technology ensures that children are not only equipped with the skills and knowledge needed for secondary education but are also inspired to embrace creativity, collaboration, and resilience in all they do.
Impact
At Woodsetts Primary School, the impact of our Design and Technology curriculum is evident in the confidence, creativity, and resilience demonstrated by our pupils. Through engaging, practical lessons and carefully sequenced units, children develop the skills and knowledge needed to become innovative thinkers, skilled problem-solvers, and effective collaborators.
Our curriculum ensures that children leave Woodsetts equipped with a strong understanding of design principles, technical knowledge, and practical skills across areas such as mechanisms, structures, textiles, food, and electronics. By revisiting and building on these concepts each year, children achieve mastery and are well-prepared for the challenges of secondary education.
Assessment is integral to understanding the impact of our curriculum. Children’s progress is evaluated through memory questioning, final projects, and knowledge-based quizzes, providing clear evidence of their ability to design, create, and evaluate effectively. Teachers use these assessments alongside the six-point PITA scale to ensure all children make consistent progress, with additional opportunities for those working at greater depth to extend their understanding and innovation.
The transferable skills learned through Design and Technology—such as critical thinking, collaboration, and perseverance—equip children to tackle real-world challenges with confidence and creativity. By connecting DT learning to other curriculum areas, such as geography, history, and PSHE, we provide meaningful contexts for children to apply their knowledge and develop a deeper understanding of the world around them.
Through their time at Woodsetts, children not only gain technical competence but also develop a mindset that values resilience, creativity, and care. This ensures they are ready to embrace future opportunities and challenges, empowered to make meaningful contributions to their communities and beyond.
To find out more about our Design and Technology curriculum, please click on the document below:
