Design Technology
Policy, Long Term Plan and Skills Progression Grids
Intent
At Burnley Road Academy, we believe that Design and Technology (D&T) is a vital part of delivering a broad, balanced, and relevant curriculum. It provides children with real-life contexts for learning and equips them with the creative, technical, and practical expertise needed to solve problems and develop innovative ideas.
Through a hands-on, iterative approach, pupils learn to design, make, evaluate, and apply technical knowledge across different strands: mechanisms, structures, textiles, food technology, and electrical and computer systems. These experiences help children to understand how things work and how products are developed, used, and improved in the real world.
We embed our core values of courage, perseverance, teamwork, and compassion in our D&T curriculum:
· Courage and perseverance – when learning new skills and refining designs.
· Teamwork – in collaborative planning and making processes.
· Compassion – through supportive peer evaluations and understanding that learning can be challenging and iterative.
We aim to inspire children to become the innovators and problem-solvers of tomorrow, able to make a meaningful impact in a fast-changing technological world.
Implementation
· The curriculum follows a carefully planned progression of skills and knowledge across all year groups.
· Teachers use a long-term plan and skills progression document to ensure consistency and clear sequencing of learning.
· Topics are chosen to give pupils opportunities to work in different contexts and apply a wide range of tools, materials, and techniques.
· Grammarsaurus and other trusted resources are used to support delivery.
· Cross-curricular links (e.g. with science, history, and maths) are made where relevant.
Impact
The impact of our D&T curriculum is visible through:
· Children's ability to articulate the design process using appropriate vocabulary.
· Increased confidence and independence in using tools and materials.
· Development of evaluative and reflective thinking.
· High levels of engagement and enjoyment.
· Children producing high-quality, functional products and being able to talk about how to improve them.
Evidence of learning is collected through:
· D&T workbooks
· Photographs
· Displays
· Website and social media posts
Children leave Key Stage 2 meeting or exceeding national expectations, well-prepared for the D&T curriculum in secondary school and beyond.
Cultural Capital in Design Technology
‘It is the essential knowledge that pupils need to be educated citizens, introducing them to the best that has been thought and said and helping to engender an appreciation of human creativity and achievement.’
Ofsted School Inspection Handbook 2019
At Burnley Road, we enrich children’s learning by creating a wide range of opportunities within our Design and Technology (DT) curriculum, throughout the school environment, and within our local community.
Our DT curriculum is carefully planned and delivered through engaging, purposeful topics across the year. While following the National Curriculum, we also incorporate hands-on experiences that help pupils develop essential practical skills, preparing them for both high school and everyday life.
We actively seek opportunities to explore the local and wider community, helping children connect their learning to the world around them and understand the relevance of design and technology in real-life contexts.