Design & Technology

The intent of the Design & Technology curriculum is to provide all students with a high-quality, ambitious, and inclusive education that equips them with the knowledge, skills, and understanding needed to design, make, and evaluate products that respond to real-world needs.

Design & Technology enables students to become creative problem solvers, capable of working independently and collaboratively to design purposeful solutions. Through a carefully sequenced curriculum, students develop technical knowledge, practical competence, and critical thinking, preparing them for modern life, further education, and employment.

The curriculum reflects the school’s values of being respectful, responsible, and resilient, and promotes perseverance through practical challenges where students learn from mistakes and refine their work. Sustainability and responsible design choices are embedded throughout, encouraging students to consider the environmental, ethical, and social impact of products in line with Catholic Social Teaching and care for creation.

Knowledge and Skills

The curriculum is designed to ensure students:

• Develop secure knowledge of materials, tools, equipment, and processes
• Understand mechanical systems, electronic systems, structures, and manufacturing techniques
• Use CAD and CAM confidently to design, model, and manufacture products
• Apply the design process to research, generate ideas, develop solutions, and evaluate outcomes
• Work accurately and safely using hand tools, machinery, and specialist equipment
• Build resilience through iterative design, testing, evaluation, and improvement

Knowledge is deliberately revisited and built upon so that students know more and can do more over time.

Curriculum Sequencing and Progression

At Key Stage 3, the curriculum provides a broad and balanced foundation. Students are introduced to core technical principles, materials, tools, and design processes through a range of practical projects. These projects are sequenced to develop confidence, independence, and creativity, while embedding technical vocabulary and safe working practices.

At Key Stage 4, students build on KS3 foundations through the Eduqas GCSE Design & Technology course. They deepen their understanding of technical principles and apply this knowledge through a substantial Non-Exam Assessment (NEA) and written examination. The curriculum prepares students for success in assessment while maintaining creativity and freedom of material and process choice.

Inclusion and Ambition

The curriculum is designed to be accessible to all learners, including those with SEND and disadvantaged pupils. Scaffolding, modelling, guided practice, and structured support ensure all students can succeed, while opportunities for challenge allow high-attaining students to extend their thinking and creativity.

All students are encouraged to aspire to further study and careers in areas such as product design, engineering, architecture, graphics, manufacturing, and digital design.

Assessment and Impact

Assessment is used to support learning and check understanding through:

• Ongoing formative assessment and feedback
• Practical outcomes and design work
• Written assessments and mock examinations
• The GCSE NEA and final examination

The impact of the curriculum is evident in students who:

• Can confidently design, make, and evaluate products
• Demonstrate independence, resilience, and problem-solving skills
• Apply technical knowledge accurately and creatively
• Are well prepared for further education, training, or employment

Head of Department

Mr. P. Johnson