At Kates Hill Primary, our intent is to develop pupils’ mastery of design and technology, empowering them to apply these skills confidently in everyday life and future careers. Our curriculum is carefully planned to ensure clear skill progression, building on prior knowledge and fostering a deep understanding of essential concepts.

Pupils at Kates Hill develop a strong foundation in design principles, enabling them to think, work and communicate like designers. We nurture creativity and problem-solving through a variety of engaging projects.

From Early Years, pupils participate in hands-on activities, beginning with material exploration (Expressive Arts and Design) and developing fine motor skills (Physical Development), before advancing to more complex design challenges. Alongside this, they learn about aesthetics, social responsibility, and environmental awareness.

We inspire pupils encourage innovative thinking. Throughout their journey, pupils will identify needs, create practical solutions, and develop the skills and enthusiasm required to thrive in a rapidly changing world.

At Kates Hill Primary, we follow a broad and balanced Design and Technology curriculum that builds on prior learning, offering both support and challenge for all learners. Our curriculum focuses on specific disciplines such as food and nutrition, mechanisms, structures, textiles, and key stage-specific topics like sliders and leavers (KS1) and steady hand games (KS2). These projects are designed to help pupils engage with the National Curriculum in a creative and meaningful way.

Progression is built into the curriculum, allowing pupils to revisit and deepen their understanding of key concepts with increasing complexity and challenge. Alongside developing skills in core Design and Technology disciplines, we emphasise the importance of purposeful, real-world work, encouraging pupils to develop problem-solving skills and creativity.

Our curriculum is delivered through a hands-on, creative approach where pupils design, make, and evaluate. A DT unit will follow a consistent learning journey. Children will research existing products, practise skills, design a product, create a product and evaluate. They work with a wide range of materials, tools, and technologies, building practical skills while fostering creativity, critical thinking, and resilience.

At Kates Hill Primary, the impact of our Design and Technology curriculum is clear in pupils’ progress in creativity, problem-solving and practical skills. By the time they leave, pupils understand the full design process - from identifying problems to designing, creating, and evaluating solutions - and confidently use a range of materials, tools, and technologies in real-world contexts.

Children develop substantive and disciplinary knowledge that helps them perform everyday tasks and thrive in a technological world. They leave equipped with cooking skills and an understanding of healthy eating. Through meaningful connections, pupils remember and apply their learning independently. Our curriculum prepares them to be resourceful, innovative, and skilled designers who explore ideas and solve relevant problems.

We assess progress continuously through practical work, discussions, and reflections, focusing on development as designers rather than just final products. This helps us tailor teaching to support each pupil’s growth.

As a result, pupils leave Kates Hill confident, creative, and ready to use their skills both inside and beyond the classroom, with a lasting appreciation of design’s impact on the world.