At Welbourne Primary School, we recognise the importance of design and technology (D&T) in shaping our future. With rapid technological changes happening all the time, it’s crucial for our pupils to explore this subject, opening doors to potential careers in the field. Our D&T curriculum is designed to spark children’s interest and creativity, encouraging them to apply skills from mathematics, science, computing, and art. We want to give them the tools to contribute meaningfully to society later in life.
We use Kapow Primary’s Design and Technology scheme to teach D&T. This program aligns with the national curriculum’s five strands: Design, Make, Evaluate, Technical knowledge, and Cooking and nutrition. Our curriculum plans build upon the foundations developed in the Early Years Foundation Stage, where the curriculum focuses on:
- providing children with a range of materials to construct with;
- encouraging children to think about and discuss what they want to make;
- creating collaboratively, sharing ideas, resources, and skills;
- discussing problems and how they might be solved as they arise;
- reflecting with children on how they have achieved their aims.
Through Kapow Primary’s Design and Technology scheme, pupils respond to design briefs and scenarios that require consideration of the needs of others, developing their skills in six key areas: Mechanisms, Structures, Textiles, Cooking and Nutrition, Electrical Systems and Digital World.
Each area follows the design process and integrates themes from the technical knowledge or cooking and nutrition section of the curriculum. The spiral curriculum revisits key areas with increasing complexity, allowing children to build on what they have learned.
Our lessons are dynamic, including independent tasks, group work, hands-on activities, and computer-based tasks. Our pupils also benefit from taking part in yearly STEM Challenges, involving them engaging in hands-on, collaborative activities that integrate concepts from Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). These challenges are designed to encourage critical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork. The goal is to make learning fun and interactive while promoting the application of STEM principles in real-world scenarios.
Our commitment is to equip our pupils with skills that extend beyond the classroom, preparing them for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead in the broader world.