Design & Technology
Lead Teachers: Mrs D Watson & Mrs L Harris
Rationale
At Alkrington Primary School, we have carefully chosen to teach Design and Technology in focused project blocks, referred to as Design and Technology weeks, rather than through short weekly lessons. This approach reflects the practical, iterative and creative nature of the subject and ensures pupils have sufficient time to engage meaningfully with the full design–make–evaluate process.
Design and Technology requires extended periods of time for pupils to investigate, design, make, test, refine and evaluate products effectively. Teaching the subject in blocked units allows pupils to work with continuity and purpose, developing technical skills, resilience and problem-solving without the disruption that can arise from shorter, fragmented lessons. This organisation enables pupils to immerse themselves in their learning, sustain focus and take ownership of increasingly complex projects.
We use the Kapow Design and Technology scheme of work to support high-quality, well-sequenced teaching. Kapow has been selected because it aligns closely with the National Curriculum, provides clear progression of knowledge and skills, and offers strong subject-specific vocabulary and practical guidance. Teaching and learning is carefully adapted for cohorts who missed earlier units of work before the scheme was introduced. Adaptive teaching approaches are used by all class teachers to ensure that learning in Design and Technology meets the needs of our children. Taking a responsive pedagogical approach, teachers provide additional scaffolding or extended learning where necessary, ensuring that lessons are accessible, inclusive and appropriately challenging for all learners, including those with SEND.
The organisation of Design and Technology into four substantial projects per year - including a dedicated food technology unit - allows pupils to revisit key concepts, tools and techniques across year groups. Knowledge and skills are deliberately revisited and built upon over time, enabling teachers to identify and address gaps in learning and ensuring pupils retain and apply prior knowledge effectively. This structure also provides opportunities for retrieval, reflection and refinement, which are essential for developing mastery in practical subjects.
By organising time in this way, pupils benefit from a coherent and ambitious curriculum that values depth over coverage, supports high-quality outcomes, and reflects the real-world application of design and technology. This approach ensures that pupils leave Alkrington Primary School with a secure understanding of the subject and the confidence to apply their learning creatively and purposefully.
Intent
At Alkrington Primary School, our Design and Technology curriculum provides pupils with a broad, coherent and ambitious programme of study that fosters creativity, innovation and practical capability. The curriculum is designed to inspire pupils to think critically and imaginatively, taking influence from the work of engineers, designers, architects and chefs, while developing the knowledge, skills and resilience required to design and make purposeful products.
Design and Technology is underpinned by a deliberate balance of knowledge, skills and creativity, ensuring that pupils enjoy their learning, make sustained progress and are inspired to aim high in all they do.
Through carefully sequenced teaching, pupils learn how to evaluate, design and make products for specific users and purposes. They are taught to consider functionality, aesthetics and sustainability while drawing on learning from across the wider curriculum, including mathematics, science, computing and art.
The curriculum is structured to ensure clear progression of knowledge and skills across all year groups. Pupils revisit and build upon prior learning, developing increasing technical competence and confidence as they move through school. This progression enables pupils to make informed design decisions, apply subject-specific vocabulary accurately, and approach challenges with independence and creativity.
Our aim is to ensure that all pupils leave Alkrington Primary School as resourceful, innovative and enterprising individuals who are well-prepared for the next stage of their education and equipped with the knowledge and skills to contribute to an increasingly technological world.
Implementation
Design and Technology at Alkrington Primary School is implemented through a structured and progressive approach that aligns with the National Curriculum. We use the Kapow scheme of work to support high-quality teaching and ensure consistency, breadth and depth across all year groups.
Teaching follows a clear and consistent cycle of: investigating, designing, making and evaluating. This structure enables pupils to understand and apply the design process and develop competence in both practical and evaluative skills.
Each year, pupils complete four Design and Technology projects: one focused on food technology and three linked to other key areas such as structures, mechanisms, textiles or electrical systems. Projects are delivered through focused Design and Technology weeks, allowing pupils to work with continuity, revisit prior learning and develop secure technical understanding.
Teachers use the progression of knowledge and skills within Kapow to plan lessons that are challenging and engaging, ensuring that all pupils, including those with SEND, can access the curriculum and achieve well.
Purposeful cross-curricular links ensure pupils make meaningful connections in their learning. They apply scientific knowledge to explore materials, forces and circuits; use mathematics to secure precision and proportion; and draw on English to articulate, present and evaluate their design thinking with clarity and confidence.
Impact
The impact of the Design and Technology curriculum at Alkrington Primary School is evident in pupils’ growing confidence, independence and ability to apply their technical knowledge creatively and purposefully.
Assessment is ongoing and purposeful, enabling teachers to make informed judgments about pupils’ understanding and progress. Impact is measured through:
- Pupil voice, which provides insight into confidence, enjoyment and recall of key learning
- Evidence in books, photographs and prototypes that demonstrate progression over time
- Moderation meetings to ensure consistency and high expectations across the school
- Analysis of assessment data and subject leader monitoring activities
Through these methods, we ensure that pupils achieve well in Design and Technology and that teaching remains responsive to need.
By the time pupils leave Alkrington Primary School, they will:
- Demonstrate a secure understanding of the design–make–evaluate process
- Apply prior learning to develop innovative and functional solutions to design problems
- Show precision, safety and creativity when using tools, materials and equipment
- Understand and apply the principles of nutrition and food hygiene
- Work effectively both independently and collaboratively
- Appreciate the impact of design and technology on daily life and society
Our curriculum ensures that pupils develop not only practical competence but also the curiosity, critical thinking and ambition to become lifelong learners and problem-solvers.
Design and Technology Curriculum Map
Design and Technology Progression of Skills and Knowledge
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