At Hanslope Primary School, our Design and Technology curriculum is built from the National Curriculum and sequenced through a two-year rolling programme. This ensures that all pupils experience a broad, balanced and carefully planned curriculum, regardless of whether they begin a phase in Cycle A or Cycle B.
Our curriculum is organised around clear golden threads. These golden threads help pupils make meaningful links across projects, units and year groups. In Design and Technology, pupils revisit key concepts such as designing, making, evaluating, innovation, sustainability and user needs over time so that their knowledge and skills become deeper, more connected and more secure.
Across the school, pupils develop both substantive knowledge and disciplinary knowledge. Substantive knowledge is the key content pupils learn, such as mechanisms, structures, textiles, electrical systems and food technology. Disciplinary knowledge is how pupils learn to think and work like designers, engineers and makers, including identifying problems, generating ideas, developing prototypes, selecting appropriate tools and materials, testing products and evaluating their effectiveness.
Vocabulary is planned carefully so that pupils are able to discuss design processes, products and technical concepts with increasing accuracy and confidence. Through regular opportunities to design, make and evaluate, pupils develop creativity, resilience and practical problem-solving skills that prepare them for life beyond the classroom.
Subject Leader: Mrs Shellie Duffield
