Intent

At Purley C of E Primary School, our Design & Technology curriculum prepares pupils to become creative, practical problem-solvers in a rapidly changing world. Children learn to design, make and evaluate purposeful products, developing resilience, curiosity and resourcefulness.

Through meaningful projects, pupils explore the social, environmental and aesthetic impact of design and learn to adapt and improve their ideas. DT enables pupils to become informed consumers and potential future innovators.

Cooking and nutrition form a key part of our curriculum, giving pupils vital life skills in preparing healthy food and understanding the principles of nutrition.

Our curriculum enables pupils to:

• Develop creative, technical and practical skills

• Design and make products for real users and purposes

• Evaluate their own work and the work of others

• Apply principles of nutrition and learn how to cook

Implementation

DT is taught through a clear, progressive curriculum from EYFS to Year 6, with projects sequenced to build skills in structures, mechanisms, textiles, electrical systems, digital design, and cooking & nutrition.

Examples across school include:

• EYFS – bread hedgehogs, weaving, boats

• KS1 (Cycle 1 & 2) – moving pictures, Baby Bear’s Chair, pull-along toys, puppets, Tudor houses, Medieval soup kitchen

• Lower KS2 – light-up posters, slingshot carts, seasonal cooking, cushions, pavilions, wearable tech

• Upper KS2 – bridges, mechanical dragons, “Come Dine With Me”, Viking weaving, navigation devices, torches

All projects follow the design cycle: research → design → make → evaluate.
Teachers model techniques, introduce key vocabulary and ensure progression through practical, hands-on learning. DT is linked, where appropriate, to maths, science, computing and art to strengthen understanding.

Impact

By the end of primary school, pupils will:

• Have secure skills across structures, textiles, mechanisms, electrical systems, digital design and cooking

• Use tools and materials safely and confidently

• Design and make products with creativity and independence

• Evaluate and improve their work using technical vocabulary

• Understand how design impacts everyday life and the wider world

• Demonstrate practical cooking skills and knowledge of healthy eating

Pupils leave Purley as confident, capable problem-solvers with the creativity and practical foundations needed for life and further learning.