Design Technology

Curriculum Intent

At Byron Primary School, our aim is for every pupil to develop the knowledge, practical skills and creativity needed to become confident designers, makers and problem-solvers. We want pupils to understand how Design and Technology shapes the world around them and to use their imagination, technical knowledge and practical skills to create purposeful products for real users and meaningful purposes. 

Beginning in EYFS and continuing through to Year 6, pupils develop an increasingly secure understanding of the design process through designing, making and evaluating. They learn how products are developed to meet specific needs and gain technical knowledge in structures, mechanisms, textiles, food and electrical systems. 

Our curriculum develops both substantive knowledge and disciplinary knowledge. Pupils learn to investigate existing products, generate and communicate ideas, select appropriate tools and materials, and evaluate products critically against design criteria and specifications. Through this process, they develop creativity, resilience and independence. 

Design and Technology supports Byron's values of Respect, Aspire and Succeed. Pupils learn to respect the views and needs of others when designing products, aspire to create high-quality outcomes and succeed through perseverance and problem-solving. They develop confidence in their ability to innovate, adapt and improve their work.

Design and Technology also contributes to pupils' understanding of British Values. Through collaborative working, decision-making and responsible design, pupils learn the importance of mutual respect, individual responsibility and contributing positively to society. 

Curriculum Implementation

In EYFS, children begin to develop the foundations of Design and Technology through construction, model making, creative projects, role play and exploration of materials. They learn to investigate, create, improve and talk about how things work and why they are made in different ways. 

From Year 1 to Year 6, Design and Technology is taught through a carefully sequenced long-term plan based on the Design and Technology Association's Projects on a Page approach. The curriculum builds progressively so that pupils revisit and deepen their understanding of designing, making and evaluating while developing increasingly secure technical knowledge and practical skills. 

Pupils study a broad range of projects covering structures, mechanisms, mechanical systems, electrical systems, textiles and food technology. Each project has a clear purpose and user, enabling pupils to apply their learning within meaningful and engaging contexts. 

Technical vocabulary is explicitly taught and revisited throughout the curriculum. Pupils progressively develop the language needed to communicate their ideas and understanding, using increasingly precise subject-specific terminology as they move through school. 

Lessons make regular use of retrieval practice, discussion, practical investigation and evaluation to help pupils connect new learning with prior knowledge. Teachers adapt learning to ensure ambitious curriculum goals are accessible to all pupils, including those with SEND and pupils who are developing proficiency in English. 

Where appropriate, learning is enriched through visitors, educational visits, food preparation experiences and cross-curricular projects which help pupils understand the relevance of Design and Technology in everyday life. 

Curriculum Impact

By the end of Year 6, pupils will have developed a secure understanding of the design process and the technical knowledge needed to create purposeful products. They will be able to apply their knowledge, skills and creativity confidently across a range of design challenges. 

Pupils will be able to:

• Recall important Design and Technology knowledge and vocabulary. 
• Design products for identified users and purposes. 
• Select and use tools, materials and components safely and effectively. 
• Apply knowledge of structures, mechanisms, textiles, food and electrical systems. 
• Evaluate products against design criteria and improve their work. 
• Demonstrate creativity, resilience and problem-solving when faced with practical challenges. 

As a result of their Design and Technology learning, pupils leave Byron as confident, creative and capable problem-solvers who understand how products are designed, made and improved. They are well prepared for the next stage of their education and have developed the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to succeed in an increasingly technological world.

DT-progression of Knowledge and SkillsDT-Curriculum MapDT progression of Vocabuary