Design Technology

DESIGN TECHNOLOGY

‘High-quality design and technology education makes an essential contribution to the creativity, culture, wealth and well-being of the nation.’

National Curriculum

At St John’s, we believe that all children should be provided with the skills and confidence to be able to reach their full potential. 

For Design and technology, we aim to ensure that all pupils:

• Develop the creative, technical and practical expertise needed to perform everyday tasks confidently and to participate successfully in an increasingly technological world. 
• Build and apply a repertoire of knowledge, understanding and skills in order to design and make high-quality prototypes and products for a wide range of users. 
• Critique, evaluate and test their ideas and products and the work of others. 
• Understand and apply the principles of nutrition and learn how to cook. 

Our bespoke, irresistible DT curriculum offers a range of exciting units that solve real and relevant problems and offer a progression of skills and knowledge from Reception to Year 6. Through these units children learn and apply technical skills for:

• Structures (free standing, shell structures)
• Mechanical systems (sliders, levers and linkages, wheels and axels, pulleys)
• Electrical systems (circuits, switches)
• Textiles
• Computer aided design
• Monitoring and control
• Cooking and nutrition

Where appropriate DT units link to other areas of learning e.g. in Y4 they design and make illuminations with an electrical circuit alongside learning about electricity in science. Other units are standalone e.g. year 5 design and make cushions in their textiles unit.

The children learn about influential people who have had an impact in the world of DT e.g. Year 3 learn about the architect Zaha Hadid and Year 4 learn about Nathan Outlaw a Michelin starred seafood chef.

Where possible the children’s learning is enhanced with trips and visits e.g. Year 4 visit Lightworks and go on a research trip to the tableaux illuminations at Cleveleys. Year 3 visit Blackpool’s model village as part of the design process in their structures unit. 

Design Technology Whole School Overview 2024/2025: