Intent

“Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works."

- Steve Jobs

At Queen Eleanor’s C of E junior school, our vision for design and technology is to give children the skills, confidence and inspiration to design, create and build whatever their imagination and ideas desire. Through learning about the engineering masters of the past and present – such as Isambard Kingdom Brunel and Steve Jobs – they are equipped with the tools and skills to follow in their footsteps. 

Pupils are given the opportunity to work through a process of designing, making and evaluating, and are thus able to develop and refine their 3D creations and reflect on the outcomes.

Implementation

Design technology is a life skill and is interlinked with other subjects across the curriculum. Design and technology projects are purposeful and enable children to see a practical context for their learning.

In year 4, pupils use their science topic on Electricity as a spring board for their DT learning when making electronic board games. The year 5 design and technology project enables pupils to build a WW2 Anderson shelter.

Design and Technology Curriculum Overview

Year	Summary of learning
3	Wooden jinx frames Clay dragons Healthy eating: making bread rolls & fruit kebabs
4	Mayan papier mache masks Electronic board games Cookery
5	Wooden mazes - Greek labyrinth Papier mache volcanoes WW2 Anderson shelters WW2 Cakes
6	Egyptian burial masks Papier mache dragon boats Cookery

Impact

Design and technology develops important life skills such as confidence, risk-taking and resilience. Studying DT can help to develop children’s critical thinking and their ability to interpret the world around them.

Design and technology are integral parts of culture and society from computer game design to engineering, packaging to food preparation. It is a subject which is enjoyed throughout the school where children benefit from the excitement of learning by creating, innovating and using their imagination!