Design & Technology Curriculum 

'Design is not just what it looks like and feels like - design is

how it works'  Steve Jobs

What is Design & Technology?

Design and technology is an inspiring, rigorous and practical subject. Using creativity and imagination, pupils design and make products that solve real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts, considering their own and others’ needs, wants and values. They acquire a broad range of subject knowledge and draw on disciplines such as mathematics, science, engineering, computing and art. Pupils learn how to take risks, becoming resourceful, innovative, enterprising and capable citizens. Through the evaluation of past and present design and technology, they develop a critical understanding of its impact on daily life and the wider world. High-quality design and technology education makes an essential contribution to the creativity, culture, wealth and well-being of the nation”

(National Curriculum Document 2014)

Our Vision

At Rimrose Hope Primary school we aim to provide all children with a broad and balanced curriculum which prepares them for life beyond primary education. We encourage children to use their creativity and imagination, to design and make products that solve real and relevant problems. We pride ourselves on planning and teaching authentic design & technology challenges. During lessons, we teach children the language skills they will need to be effective communicators. We encourage our children to be critical thinkers, forward planners and effective problem solvers. We teach our children to be able to work as capable individuals and as part of a valuable, productive team. Endurance and resilience are key values running through our D&T curriculum, and the children are encouraged to become innovators and risk-takers.

Skills of a great design and technology student:

• Use imaginative and creative thinking

• Able to identify a need and provide a solution for it

• Skilful and resourceful in selecting the appropriate tools and techniques to make a product

• Able to test and evaluate a product and say what they like and dislike about it

• Resilient and confident enough to take risks and learn from any mistakes

• Able to make links and apply their learning from other subjects, e.g. science, maths, art and computing

Our Curriculum

At Rimrose Hope our Design and Technology lessons follow and cover all key aspects of the National Curriculum. We have three projects a year, which each cover a different strand of the curriculum (see long term plan.) Where possible these projects will link to other topic work to give extra purpose and meaning for the children.

Our Pedagogy

All projects planned are authentic and allow the children to appreciate the complexities and wonder of the design world, to be creative and to solve problems. At the essence of each project we encourage the children to focus on product-purpose-user to ensure its authenticity. Each of the weeks follow the same structure and draw on skills developed in other areas of the curriculum, such as maths, art and science.

Throughout the design & technology weeks the children will:

• Develop or are given a design brief
• Evaluate existing products
• Make design choices and design their product
• Make their design ensuring to make changes and adaptations where needed
• Evaluate their final product

Our Autumn projects are led by the design and technology expert Stephanie O’Donnell. Class teachers complete evaluative lessons pre and post this expert workshop with the children to ensure the design process is fully rounded.  For the Spring and Summer D&T Projects the children share their work in a celebration showcase for  the parents and this adds extra purpose to our projects. 

Each term Co-ordinators set a Home-school Challenge linked to our design & technology weeks in school. This encourages children to engage with their parents and to facilitate the transfer of skills developed in school. It is our aim to equip the children with skills needed for life beyond the classroom setting. The children bring their entries into school and their work is celebrated. Winners are chosen by our Design & Technology Ambassadors who act as judges for these events.

KS1 - Designing and Making a Healthy Wrap

The children were tasked with creating a healthy wrap as a lunchtime option. They evaluated existing products, designed their wrap choosing ingredients based on what they had learnt and tastes, then made the wraps and evaluated final products.

KS2- Designing and making  a couscous salad and a noodle dish

The children in KS2 were tasked with creating a healthy couscous salad and a noodle dish as an alternative to a sandwich lunch. They tasted existing products , designed and made their own recipe . Then evaluated their dishes. 

Steph O'Donnell delivered a brilliant workshop with the children where they designed and made a moving vehicle. Prior to the workshop the children evaluated different vehicles and described and unpicked what they liked about them.

In KS1, the children were tasked with creating a hanging decoration of something that makes them happy. The children practised their sewing skills prior to the week to help them build confidence in threading and using the needles accurately.  The children evaluated existing products, designed their own decoration and later made them. They then evaluated their final products.

We displayed the children's work from our Positive Mindset Textiles Week before school for the parents to enjoy and admire on our school playground. The children were very proud of their work and were very keen to share their skills with their families.

The children were challenged to design and sew a container that could hold something that was precious to them. We had a brilliant response to this challenge and our ambassadors found it really difficult to choose a winner.

In KS1, the children were tasked with creating a healthy snack. The children chose to design and make healthy flapjacks. The children mixed, chopped and combine their chosen materials before baking the flapjacks. They later evaluated their final products.

As part of our Rimrose Bake Off Week the children were challenged to bake a cake following a recipe. It was our aim to encourage children to develop their life skills and enjoy quality time with their parents. 

Steph O'Donnell delivered a fab workshop with the children where they designed and made a chair for a cuddly toy. Prior to the workshop the children evaluated different chairs and described and unpicked what features they liked about them.

The children were thrilled with their final products and were able to talk about what went well and what they would change next time.

For this cooking week each year group was given a country to make food from. EYFS were China, Year 1/2 Italy, Year 3/4 Germany and 5/6 cooked food from Greece. They evaluated, designed and made their products. They then tasted and evaluated their final products. Parents were invited in to sample their cooking delights.