Wold Newton Foundation School

Design Technology

The Curriculum at Wold Newton Primary School. The Intent, implementation and impact of our curriculum-Design and technology

Intent

At Wold Newton Foundation School, we want every child to become a creative, imaginative and confident designer. Our Design and Technology curriculum gives pupils the chance to design and make products that solve real problems and meet real needs, thinking carefully about their own ideas as well as the needs, wants and values of others. We aim to inspire children to be resourceful, innovative and willing to take thoughtful risks in their learning.

D&T draws on knowledge and skills from many subjects—including maths, science, engineering, computing and art—and we want pupils to see how these areas connect in meaningful, practical ways. As part of the curriculum, children also learn how to cook, understand where food comes from and apply the principles of healthy eating. Our aim is to equip pupils with the skills, confidence and curiosity they need to design and create with purpose.

Implementation

Our Design and Technology curriculum is carefully planned so that pupils build their skills and understanding over time. Children learn by exploring real products, investigating how they work and evaluating designs from the past and present. This helps them understand how good design meets a need and has an impact on people’s lives.

Throughout each project, pupils:

Research and plan their ideas, considering the purpose of their product and who it is for.
Create and make using an increasing range of tools, materials and techniques.
Evaluate and test their own work and the work of others, using appropriate vocabulary to explain their thinking.
Adapt and improve their designs based on what they discover during the making process.
Work collaboratively, listening to others’ ideas and respecting different skills, opinions and approaches.

Cooking and nutrition are taught progressively, giving pupils hands‑on experience of preparing food, learning about healthy choices and understanding where ingredients come from.

Impact

By the end of each key stage, pupils will know more, remember more and be able to do more in Design and Technology. They will be more confident, innovative and independent in the way they design and create products that meet identified needs. Their growing skills in planning, making and evaluating will enrich their learning across the curriculum, helping them think critically and communicate their ideas clearly.

We see the impact of our curriculum through pupils’ finished products, their design books, their ability to talk about their work and the thoughtful decisions they make during the design process. This helps us understand how effectively they are developing as young designers and how we can continue to strengthen their learning journey.

Please see our Design and Technology projects in action across the school below:

Design and Technology week - Hyett Education

Hyett Education came into school and worked with Class 1 for the morning. Using electronics and programming skills children made Lego creations which could move at different speeds and directions. Children then advanced their models by adding sensors and sounds.