Design and Technology at St Richard’s Catholic Primary School

At St Richard’s Catholic Primary School, we believe that Design and Technology is a creative and practical subject that prepares children to become innovative thinkers and confident problem-solvers. Through designing, making, evaluating and refining products, pupils learn how to apply their knowledge and skills to real-life situations whilst developing resilience, creativity and independence.

Our curriculum is carefully sequenced to build knowledge and skills progressively across the school. Pupils learn about structures, mechanisms, textiles, electrical systems and cooking and nutrition, enabling them to develop a broad understanding of how products are designed, made and improved. Children revisit and build upon prior learning, helping them to develop secure knowledge and increasingly sophisticated technical skills over time.

Design and Technology lessons follow a purposeful design process. Children are encouraged to identify problems, investigate existing products, generate ideas, create prototypes, make products and evaluate their effectiveness. Through this iterative process, pupils learn the importance of testing, adapting and improving their work, developing the confidence to learn from mistakes and refine their designs.

Practical learning is central to our approach. Pupils are given regular opportunities to work with a range of tools, materials and technologies, developing the technical knowledge and practical expertise needed to bring their ideas to life safely and effectively. We place a strong emphasis on precision, craftsmanship and pride in the finished product.

To give learning meaningful context, Design and Technology is delivered flexibly throughout the year. Some units are taught as discrete sequences of lessons, while others are woven into wider curriculum topics, allowing pupils to apply their learning across subjects. We also regularly organise Design and Technology theme days, where children immerse themselves in the design process through exciting, hands-on projects and real-life challenges.

Cooking and nutrition form an important part of the curriculum. Children develop an understanding of healthy eating, food preparation and where food comes from, helping them to make informed choices that support healthy lifestyles.

Our Design and Technology curriculum promotes creativity whilst strengthening links with mathematics, science, computing and art. Pupils are encouraged to apply knowledge from across the curriculum, helping them understand how different disciplines work together to solve real-world problems.

We are ambitious for all learners and ensure that every child can succeed through high-quality teaching, adaptive practice and carefully planned support and challenge. Through collaboration, discussion and practical application, pupils develop the confidence and skills needed to become effective designers and makers.

By the time they leave St Richard’s, pupils will have developed creativity, technical knowledge and problem-solving skills alongside an understanding of how design and technology shapes the world around them. They will be equipped with the confidence to think critically, innovate and contribute positively to the future.