Design Technology

Design Technology helps children to turn ideas into practical solutions. By exploring materials, tools and techniques, they learn how things are made and how they can be improved. At Elmridge, we aim to develop designers who are creative, resourceful and confident in bringing their ideas to life.

Through a variety of creative and practical activities, pupils at Elmridge will be taught the knowledge, understanding and skills needed to engage in an interactive process of designing and making. They will work in a range of relevant contexts and children will be taught how to design, make and evaluate. Over the course of their primary schooling, they will develop a bank of technical knowledge.

Design Technology at our school develops children’s skills and knowledge in design, architecture, mechanisms and mechanical systems, textiles, cooking and nutrition, programming and electronics, electrical systems and structures. Our curriculum will allow pupils to become self-motivated and confident learners, who can work independently and as part of a team. We aim to ensure that learners develop technical and practical competencies as well as the wider skills valued by employers. Our main priority is for learners to be problem solvers who are not afraid of making mistakes.

Through our innovative curriculum we want children to be passionate about becoming tomorrow’s designers and engineers.

Our curriculum aims to inspire children through a broad range of practical experiences to create innovative designs which solve real and relevant problems within a variety of different contexts. The iterative design process is fundamental throughout our curriculum and is a central thread from Y1 up to Y6. This iterative process encourages children to identify real and relevant problems, critically evaluate existing products and then take risks and innovate when designing and creating solutions to the problems. As part of the iterative process, time is built in to reflect, evaluate and improve on prototypes using design criteria throughout to support this process.

Design Technology in Action