Intent

At St Barnabas and St Helenas Federation, we want Design and Technology to prepare our children, to give all of them the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences they need to unlock their potential and flourish in the world. With that in mind, we intend to build a Design Technology curriculum which is inspiring, rigorous and practical. We want our children to use creativity and imagination, to design and make products that solve real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts, considering their own and others’ needs, wants and values; working in unity.

Implementation

At St Barnabas and St Helena’s Federation, we implement Design and Technology through the Cornerstones curriculum, which provides a clear, progressive sequence of knowledge and skills. DT is taught in dedicated half-term blocks, allowing children to fully immerse themselves in researching, planning, designing, making and evaluating. Lessons are practical and hands-on, bringing the world of STEM to life and building strong cross-curricular links with Mathematics, Science, Computing and Art. Children work safely with a wide range of tools and materials, developing teamwork, resilience and creativity as they solve real-life problems together and flourish as confident designers.

Impact

Children develop a keen interest in DT topics and are equipped with creativity, problem-solving skills, and practical knowledge that grow progressively from EYFS to Year 6. Pupils demonstrate independence, resilience, and innovation, understanding the importance of functionality, sustainability, and user needs. DT empowers the children to think critically, work collaboratively, and apply their learning to real-world challenges, preparing them for future study and life.

	DT Cycle overviews	[docx 1MB]
	DT subject on a page	[docx 153KB]
	DT Vocabulary progression	[docx 18KB]
	Knowledge Progression Design and Technology	[pdf 157KB]
	Skills Progression Design and Technology	[pdf 157KB]