Preparing, Sowing, Growing through creativity and problem-solving

At Christ Church, Design and Technology (DT) inspires children to be creative thinkers, problem-solvers and practical learners. Through designing, making and evaluating, pupils develop valuable skills for everyday life—supporting our vision of Preparing, Sowing and Growing and reflecting our Christian values.

Our Vision in Design and Technology

Preparing
Through Design and Technology, we prepare children with important life skills. Pupils learn how to design, make and evaluate products, developing practical abilities such as measuring, cutting, joining materials and cooking safely. These skills help them understand the world and prepare them for future education and daily life.

Sowing
DT lessons sow creativity, curiosity and responsibility. Through meaningful projects, children explore how things work and how to improve them. They learn to care for materials and think about sustainability, developing Christian values such as Compassion, Responsibility and Respect as they consider the impact of their designs on others and the environment.

Growing
As pupils progress, they grow in confidence, resilience and independence. DT encourages children to persevere, improve their ideas and learn from mistakes. Through working collaboratively and sharing ideas, they develop values such as Perseverance, Courage and Friendship, becoming confident and responsible learners.

Why we teach Design and Technology

We teach Design and Technology so that children can:

• Develop creativity and practical problem-solving skills
• Learn how to design, make and evaluate products
• Understand how everyday objects are created and improved
• Build independence, resilience and teamwork

This supports our vision by preparing pupils for real-life experiences, sowing curiosity and growing confident, capable individuals.

What children learn

Our Design and Technology curriculum is carefully planned so that knowledge and skills develop progressively.

• In Key Stage 1, children learn basic skills in designing and making. They explore simple materials, tools and techniques and begin to evaluate their work.
• In Key Stage 2, pupils develop more advanced skills such as creating detailed designs, using a wider range of tools and materials, and refining their products. They also learn about structures, mechanisms and food and nutrition.

Across all year groups, children learn to:

• Research and develop ideas
• Create and improve their designs
• Use tools and materials safely
• Evaluate their products against clear criteria

By the end of Year 6, pupils are confident in designing and making functional products and explaining their thinking clearly.

How we teach Design and Technology

Our Design and Technology curriculum is practical, structured and purposeful.

• We follow a carefully sequenced curriculum using Kapow and Design Technology Association resources to ensure progression in skills and knowledge.
• Learning focuses on the full design process: design, make, evaluate and improve.
• Pupils take part in hands-on projects that link to real-life contexts, making learning meaningful and engaging.
• Key skills and vocabulary are revisited so pupils remember and apply their learning.
• Outdoor learning and real-world experiences, such as forest school and community-based projects, are used to enrich learning.

This approach allows skills and ideas to develop over time, taking root and growing, just like the mustard seed in our school vision.

Preparing children for the future

Our aim is that every child leaves Christ Church:

• With practical skills for everyday life
• With the ability to think creatively and solve problems
• With confidence in designing and making
• With a sense of responsibility for the world around them

Through Design and Technology, we nurture pupils who are creative, resilient and responsible, ready to take on challenges and contribute positively to the world.