Our Design and Technology Lead is Mrs Holstein
To teach Design and Technology at Wild Bank Primary School, we have carefully chosen to use the Kapow Primary scheme of work.
Kapow Primary’s Design and Technology scheme of work aims to inspire pupils to become curious, creative and innovative thinkers with a broad understanding of how products are designed and made, in other words, to think like designers and engineers. The intention is for pupils to develop the confidence to identify problems, generate ideas, plan and create products and evaluate their outcomes.
The scheme aims to raise pupils’ awareness of how Design and Technology shape the way they live, work and interact with the world. It encourages pupils to become resourceful, enterprising individuals who have the skills to contribute to and improve the world around them.
The Strands
Kapow Primary’s Design and Technology curriculum is structured around four strands that run through every unit:
- Design.
- Make.
- Evaluate.
- Technical knowledge.
These strands ensure a balanced coverage of the substantive, disciplinary and procedural knowledge pupils need to progress in Design and Technology.
They support the development of creativity, problem-solving and technical understanding, preparing pupils to design purposeful, functional products with increasing independence and confidence.
The Key Areas
The National Curriculum for Design and Technology sets out the importance of creativity through different contexts in the technical knowledge strand, referring to structures, mechanisms and electrical systems. Cooking and nutrition are given their own heading.
To support this, Kapow Primary’s Design and Technology curriculum is organised into the following six key areas:
- Structures.
- Mechanisms and mechanical systems.
- Textiles.
- Cooking and nutrition.
- Electrical systems.
- The digital world.
These areas are revisited across year groups to give pupils a broad and balanced experience of designing and making products using a range of materials, tools and technologies.
The Kapow Primary scheme also aims to promote:
Digital Literacy
Kapow Primary’s Design and Technology curriculum goes beyond basic digital literacy by giving pupils hands-on experience with digital tools and programmable technologies.
Through the digital world key area, pupils develop confidence in coding, Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and control systems. This supports building the skills to design, monitor and adapt real-world products in a digitally connected world.
Oracy
Lessons encourage discussion, debate and presentations on Design and Technology topics, allowing pupils to articulate their understanding, justify design decisions and engage in collaborative problem-solving.
Pupils use oracy to enhance their learning by thinking aloud, questioning and discussing activities. They develop essential skills such as choosing appropriate technical vocabulary, organising their ideas clearly and listening effectively to others.
Sustainability
Kapow Primary’s Design and Technology curriculum embeds sustainability within the design process, encouraging pupils to consider the environmental impact of the products they design, make and evaluate.
Pupils learn that thoughtful design can lead to positive change, promoting a sense of agency and responsibility for the world they are helping to shape.
Critical Thinking
Pupils analyse design briefs, explore different user needs and perspectives and evaluate materials and production methods.
This helps them to question assumptions and make informed decisions when developing creative, functional and sustainable solutions.