Design and Technology

Intent

Vision

At Park Spring we want our pupils be creative and innovative through every aspect of their learning so that they can achieve together. Good design helps them to solve problems, improve comfort, and inspire creativity, showing pupils that every object and system around them was imagined and created by someone.

They will be able to create purposeful products that solve relevant real-world problems within a variety of contexts, considering their own and others’ needs, wants and values.

Delivering Grow, Know, Thrive

Our curriculum plan ensures that pupils meet the expectations of the national curriculum, supporting them not only to achieve required attainment targets but also to develop in line with our school vision: to Know through deep and secure learning, Grow as independent and reflective individuals, and Thrive within a rich, ambitious and adapted curriculum.

Values

In Design & Technology, we provide rich, hands‑on learning experiences that help our pupils become happy, resilient, caring and confident individuals. Pupils take joy in exploring their ideas, experimenting with materials and creating purposeful products they are truly proud of. Through this creative process, they experience success, enjoyment and a sense of achievement that contributes to their overall happiness at school.

When challenges arise—as they often do in designing, making and evaluating—children naturally develop resilience. They learn that mistakes are not setbacks but valuable steps in improving their work. This builds determination, problem‑solving skills and a “can‑do” attitude that extends far beyond the classroom.

Working together on projects helps children become caring, as they listen to others’ ideas, share tools and support one another through each stage of the design process. They learn empathy, teamwork and the importance of valuing each person’s contribution.

As pupils gain new skills and see their ideas come to life, they grow in confidence. They learn to trust their creativity, make decisions independently, and present their work with pride. Design & Technology empowers them to believe in themselves as designers, thinkers and future innovators.

Implementation

Our Design and Technology curriculum is built around the national requirements and rooted in our school vision for all children to Know, Grow and Thrive. Through an engaging, progressive curriculum, pupils develop the knowledge, skills, and confidence to become creative problem‑solvers who understand the impact of design on the world around them.

The national curriculum identifies three essential stages in the design process—design, make and evaluate—and these form the backbone of our approach. Each stage is underpinned by technical knowledge, equipping pupils with the contextual, historical and practical understanding they need to succeed. Cooking and Nutrition is taught as a dedicated strand to ensure children develop essential life skills and a secure understanding of healthy eating.

The curriculum’s attainment targets are organised into five strands:

Design

Make

Evaluate

Technical Knowledge

Cooking and Nutrition

These strands guide our planning and ensure that pupils acquire the knowledge they need to know key concepts securely, grow in competence through practice, and thrive as confident designers and makers.

Progression of Skills and Knowledge-

Our scheme of work provides a clear, well‑sequenced progression of knowledge and skills across the five strands. Each year group builds on prior learning so pupils:

know the fundamental vocabulary, techniques and processes
grow through increasingly challenging experiences
thrive by applying learning confidently and independently

Units are carefully mapped to demonstrate how they meet the national curriculum expectations and how learning deepens over time, ensuring that pupils achievable end‑of‑key‑stage outcomes.

Key Areas of Learning-

Through purposeful design briefs and real‑life scenarios, pupils consider the needs of others and apply their developing knowledge across six essential areas:

Mechanisms

Structures

Textiles

Cooking and Nutrition

Electrical Systems (KS2)

Digital World (KS2)

These experiences help pupils know the principles behind each material and system, grow their practical and creative skills, and thrive by seeing the relevance of their work in everyday life.

Teaching and Learning Approaches-

A wide range of teaching strategies is used to support pupils in learning deeply and remembering more. Lessons include independent challenges, paired tasks, group projects, hands‑on construction, computer‑based design, and inventive problem‑solving activities. This variety ensures all pupils can know, grow, and thrive, whatever their preferred learning style.

Differentiation is planned into every unit so that:

all pupils can access core learning
support is available where needed
challenge is provided for pupils ready to deepen and extend their understanding

Knowledge organisers accompany each unit to support recall of key facts and vocabulary, helping pupils build a strong knowledge foundation to enable them to grow as designers over time.

Cross‑Curricular Links-

Design and Technology is enriched by strong, purposeful links with subjects such as science, computing, and art. These connections help pupils know how concepts overlap, grow their understanding through application, and thrive as they make meaningful links across the curriculum

Welcome to
Park Spring Primary School

‘Achieving Together ● Inspired To Be Successful’