Design and Technology at The Grange (EIF-Aligned)

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At The Grange, we follow the National Curriculum to deliver a high-quality Design and Technology (D&T) curriculum that is creative, practical and purposeful. Through designing and making, pupils develop the knowledge, skills and understanding needed to engage with the designed and made world around them.

We believe that Design and Technology inspires curiosity, problem-solving and innovation, enabling pupils to become confident designers, engineers and critical consumers of products.

 

Intent

Our Design and Technology curriculum is ambitious, inclusive and relevant to the real world. It is designed so that all pupils:

• Develop secure knowledge and practical skills in design, structures, mechanisms, electrical control, materials and food

• Think creatively and critically to solve problems

• Understand how products are designed, made and used in everyday life

• Make thoughtful design decisions based on user needs and purpose

• Evaluate their own work and existing products with increasing sophistication

We want pupils to understand that good design is not just about appearance — it must also be functional, fit for purpose and meaningful.

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Design and Technology also strengthens learning across the curriculum, helping pupils apply and deepen their understanding of maths, science, computing and English in real, practical contexts.

At The Grange, we nurture creativity and innovation, ensuring pupils have opportunities to generate original ideas and develop them into well-crafted, functional products.

 

Implementation

Our teaching is guided by the Design and Technology Progression Framework, which ensures clear development of skills and knowledge across five key areas:

 

Designing

Pupils learn to:

• Understand users, contexts and purposes

• Generate, develop and communicate design ideas

• Model their thinking through drawings, diagrams and prototypes

 

Making

Pupils develop:

• Planning and organisation skills

• Practical techniques using a range of tools and materials

• Increasing precision and craftsmanship

 

Evaluating

Pupils are taught to:

• Evaluate their own ideas and finished products

• Analyse existing products

• Understand key designers, events and innovations

 

Technical Knowledge

Pupils build understanding of:

• How mechanisms and structures work

• How electrical systems can be controlled

• How materials behave and can be used effectively

 

Cooking and Nutrition

Pupils learn about:

• Where food comes from

• Healthy eating and balanced diets

• Food preparation and safe cooking techniques

 

Design in Action

In every project, pupils are taught to consider:

• User – Who is this product for? What do they need?

• Purpose – What is the product meant to do?

• Functionality – Does it work effectively?

• Design decisions – How will it look, work and be used?

• Innovation – How can ideas be original and creative?

• Authenticity – Is the product meaningful and realistic?

Pupils are encouraged to take ownership of their designs, make informed choices and refine their ideas through testing and evaluation.

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Cross-Curricular Links

Design and Technology at The Grange is meaningfully connected to wider learning:

• Maths – measuring, scaling, budgeting and calculating dimensions

• Science – materials, forces, electricity and structures

• Computing – digital design and control programming

• English – explaining, evaluating and presenting ideas

• Art – aesthetics, form and visual design

• PSHE – healthy eating, sustainability and responsible choices

These links help pupils see how D&T applies to real life and strengthens understanding across the curriculum.

 

Impact

Because of our carefully sequenced curriculum, pupils at The Grange:

• Can design with confidence and creativity

• Make functional, purposeful products

• Explain their design choices using accurate technical vocabulary

• Evaluate their work thoughtfully and improve it over time

• Understand how products affect people and the environment

By the end of Year 6, pupils leave The Grange as capable, reflective and innovative designers, ready for secondary school and future learning in technology, engineering and design.