Design Technology
"Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.”
Steve Jobs
At Thornton Primary School, we want every child to become a confident, creative and resilient learner who is prepared for the opportunities and challenges of the future. Through our Design and Technology curriculum, we inspire pupils to think innovatively, solve problems and develop practical skills that can be applied in everyday life.
We use the Projects on a Page scheme to support the teaching and learning of Design and Technology across Key Stage 2. This carefully structured approach enables children to develop their creativity, practical skills and problem-solving abilities through engaging, purposeful projects that build knowledge and skills progressively over time.
Our curriculum reflects our school aims by encouraging children to be curious, ambitious and independent learners. Pupils are challenged to design, make and evaluate products that solve real-life problems, while developing an understanding of structures, mechanisms, textiles, food and nutrition, and electrical systems. Through each project, children learn to take risks, test ideas, learn from mistakes and improve their work.
Design and Technology also provides many opportunities for children to demonstrate our core school values:
- Equality – valuing and respecting different perspectives, experiences and solutions.
- Aspiration – striving to create high-quality products and achieve their personal best.
- Resilience – learning from setbacks, refining designs and persevering when challenges arise.
- Teamwork – collaborating effectively, sharing ideas and supporting one another throughout projects.
- Honesty – evaluating designs thoughtfully and reflecting truthfully on successes and areas for improvement.
Using Projects on a Page ensures that learning is practical, engaging and meaningful. Children are encouraged to think like designers, engineers and inventors by investigating existing products, generating ideas, selecting appropriate materials and tools, and evaluating the effectiveness of their finished outcomes.
How Parents Can Support at Home
Parents play an important role in developing their child's creativity and practical skills. You can support learning by:
- Involving your child in cooking, baking and food preparation activities.
- Encouraging model making and construction using recycled materials.
- Talking about how everyday products are designed, made and improved.
- Supporting problem-solving activities that require planning and creativity.
- Helping children develop safe and responsible attitudes towards using tools and equipment.
By the end of their time at Thornton Primary School, we want all pupils to leave with the confidence, creativity and practical expertise needed to become thoughtful designers, problem-solvers and innovators, equipped for their future learning and life beyond school.