St Anne's Catholic Primary School
Aspire to be more
Design Technology
Intent:
Why our Design Technology curriculum looks like this:
At St Anne’s Catholic Primary School, our Design Technology curriculum is crafted to provide pupils with meaningful, real-world learning experiences. We aim to nurture creativity, resilience, and problem-solving by engaging children in purposeful projects that mirror the work of engineers, designers, chefs, and architects. From Year 1 to Year 6, pupils explore a wide range of disciplines—including mechanisms, structures, textiles, electrical systems, and food and nutrition—ensuring they revisit and deepen their understanding over time. Our curriculum is designed to build technical knowledge, foster innovation, and develop confident, capable designers who can think critically and work practically.
Implementation:
How Design Technology is taught at St Anne’s Catholic Primary School:
DT is delivered through a consistent design, make, and evaluate cycle, with each stage underpinned by technical knowledge and subject-specific vocabulary. Projects are rooted in real-life contexts to give learning purpose and relevance. Pupils are encouraged to make independent choices, use a variety of tools and materials, and reflect thoughtfully on their outcomes. DT is taught to a high standard, with clear evidence of progression across year groups, and equal emphasis on all stages of the process.
Year-by-Year Overview:
Year | Focus Areas | Key Learning Themes |
Year 1 | Mechanisms, Structures, Food & Nutrition, Materials | Introduction to basic techniques and materials; exploring how things work. |
Year 2 | Textiles, Food & Nutrition, Mechanisms, Materials | Building on foundational skills; simple textile projects and food preparation. |
Year 3 | Textiles, Food & Nutrition, Mechanisms, Systems, Structures | Applying knowledge in more complex projects; designing and evaluating with purpose. |
Year 4 | Food & Nutrition, Mechanisms, Textiles, Structures, Electrical Systems | Introducing electrical systems; developing technical and safety skills. |
Year 5 | Food & Nutrition (x2), Systems, Textiles, Structures, Mechanisms | Refining skills; exploring complex systems and material properties. |
Year 6 | Food & Nutrition (x2), Mechanisms, Structures, Electrical Systems, Textiles | Consolidating learning; tackling sophisticated design challenges with independence. |
Progression Across Key Stages:
In KS1:
- Design: Rooted in real-life contexts; planned through drawings, templates, and mock-ups.
- Make: Use of varied tools and materials; hands-on exploration.
- Evaluate: Reflecting on their own and existing products using simple criteria.
In KS2:
- Design: Informed by research; planned using sketches, prototypes, and CAD.
- Make: Confident use of a wide range of tools and materials; applying technical knowledge.
- Evaluate: Critical comparison with existing products; understanding historical and global design impact