Design and Technology Curriculum Design at Brookfield Community Primary School

Curriculum Area: Design and Technology

Subject Leader: Mrs Leonie Pritchard  

Intent

At Brookfield Community Primary School, our Design and Technology curriculum is designed to provide children with meaningful, real-life contexts for learning. As an inspiring and practical subject, it prepares children to navigate an ever-changing technological world, fostering creativity, resilience, and resourcefulness. Pupils are encouraged to become confident problem solvers who can work both independently and collaboratively.

The national curriculum for Design and Technology aims to ensure that all pupils:

• Develop the creative, technical, and practical skills needed to perform everyday tasks with confidence and thrive in an increasingly technological society.
• Acquire and apply knowledge, understanding, and skills to design and create high-quality prototypes and products for a wide range of users.
• Critically evaluate and test their own ideas and products, as well as those of others.
• Understand and apply the principles of nutrition and develop essential cooking skills.

Our curriculum seeks to motivate and inspire learners through engaging, challenging, and stimulating experiences. It encourages children to think creatively, solve problems, and use their imagination to design, make, and evaluate products that address real and relevant challenges in a variety of contexts.

Design and Technology at Brookfield is carefully structured to teach knowledge, understanding, and skills progressively. Each key stage builds on prior learning, ensuring that children develop their abilities in a logical sequence.

Central to our approach is our School Mission Statement, “Many hearts make a school”, and our School Values, which underpin all teaching and learning at Brookfield Community Primary School. Through this curriculum, we aim to nurture confident, capable, and creative learners ready to thrive in the modern world.

Implementation

At Brookfield Community Primary School, we implement an inclusive Design and Technology curriculum that meets the needs of all pupils, including those with special educational needs and the more able. Our curriculum is progressive and tailored to the needs of our children, with skills carefully integrated into lessons to develop practical, transferable abilities.

At the start of each unit, children share their prior knowledge, which helps inform planning and teaching. Each unit consists of a series of stimulating lessons with clear knowledge- and skills-based learning objectives, alongside subject-specific vocabulary included in the termly knowledge organisers. At the end of each unit, children evaluate their work, reflecting on their progress, knowledge, and understanding, while teachers assess learning against clearly defined objectives.

Our curriculum is delivered through high-quality, ‘quality first teaching’ in line with our Teaching and Learning Policy. Enrichment opportunities, including extra-curricular clubs, whole-school events, visits from inspirational professionals, and engaging educational trips, provide pupils with rich, hands-on experiences that enhance learning, deepen knowledge, and inspire creativity.

Impact

Our well-planned Design and Technology curriculum ensures that children acquire essential knowledge and skills. Learning is progressive, developmental, and engaging, providing all pupils with stimulating experiences. Teaching is designed to support each child’s growth and confidence, enabling them to reach their full potential.