At Keyworth Primary School, creativity, individuality and innovation are central to our ethos and are reflected in the creative curriculum we follow. Through design and technology, our children are taught to use their imaginations, to follow a brief and conduct research, to experiment, create and evaluate. We encourage the children to draw inspiration from a variety of areas, from historical research to past designs and designers, to consider their brief and reflect upon their own ideas and designs. The children are taught progressively, with skills revisited, refined and developed. As they move up the school, our children continue to deepen their learning, to think critically and develop their skills in problem solving, utilising and developing skills in other areas, such as computing, science and maths.

Progression across the school in DT 

Year 1

In Year 1, children begin their Design and Technology journey by creating purposeful and appealing products based on simple design criteria. They learn to share and communicate ideas through talking, drawing and modelling. With support, they use basic tools and materials to cut, shape, join and finish their creations. Pupils are encouraged to evaluate their work by discussing what they like and dislike and suggesting improvements. They also start to build an understanding of structures, exploring ways to make them stronger and more stable, and experiment with simple mechanisms such as levers and sliders.

Year 2

By Year 2, children build on their early design skills, working with more defined design criteria and exploring existing products to inspire their own creations. They communicate ideas using templates, mock-ups and ICT where appropriate. Practical work continues with the use of tools, equipment, materials and ingredients, chosen according to their characteristics. Pupils evaluate their work in more depth, identifying strengths and weaknesses and suggesting improvements. They further develop their technical knowledge of structures and mechanisms, and also apply the principles of a healthy and varied diet when preparing dishes and they learn about food sources.

Year 3

 In Year 3, children begin to research and develop design criteria to create innovative and functional products aimed at specific users. They learn about influential people and key events in design and technology. Their design work includes discussion, annotated sketches, prototypes and computer-aided design. Pupils start to use a wider range of tools and materials with growing accuracy, making considered choices about resources. They evaluate their work against their own design criteria and consider feedback from others to improve it. Technical knowledge expands to include mechanical systems such as gears and pulleys, electrical systems such as circuits with switches and motors, and the application of computing to monitor and control products. Cooking skills develop through preparing a variety of savoury dishes and understanding seasonality and food origins.

Year 4

In Year 4, children refine their ability to research and apply design criteria, creating purposeful products for specific users. They continue to study how design and technology have shaped the world. Their design ideas are expressed through detailed sketches, diagrams and prototypes, supported by ICT. When making, they select from a wide range of tools and materials, working with increasing precision and accuracy. Evaluating work becomes more reflective, with pupils describing what makes their designs effective and considering the views of others. Technical learning deepens through further exploration of complex structures, mechanical and electrical systems, and using computing to program and control products. Cooking and nutrition focus on applying healthy eating principles, practising varied cooking techniques and understanding how ingredients are produced.

Year 5

By Year 5, children are expected to justify their design and material choices, creating innovative products suited to purpose and audience. They communicate their ideas using a range of methods, including exploded diagrams and computer-aided design. When making, they work with sustainable materials, thinking carefully about functionality and aesthetics. Evaluations become analytical, with pupils explaining the functions and features of their products, reflecting on their process and considering improvements in depth. They continue to apply their technical knowledge of structures, mechanisms, electrical systems and computing to bring designs to life. Cooking and nutrition emphasise seasonality, a healthy diet and preparing savoury dishes using a variety of techniques.

Year 6

In their final year, children consolidate and extend their skills to produce high-quality, innovative designs for a specific purpose and audience. They use advanced design methods such as exploded diagrams, prototypes and CAD to communicate their ideas. Making involves the accurate and justified use of a wide range of sustainable materials and tools. Evaluations are thorough and reflective, with pupils able to explain key features, assess effectiveness and adapt their work based on the views of others. Technical learning encompasses reinforcing structures, using complex mechanisms and electrical systems, and applying computing for control and monitoring. Cooking and nutrition culminate in preparing a variety of savoury dishes with confidence, with pupils demonstrating a strong understanding of healthy eating, seasonality and food production.

CARNIVAL

Every year during the summer term, we hold a whole school carnival: a celebration of our children's learning, focusing on different themes each year. While it is a great opportunity for cross-curricular learning, our main focus is on the arts. Through art, design and DT, the children get an opportunity to really show their creativity, making banners, costumes, hats, masks, musical instruments, large pieces of art and much more. Dancing and singing to the music of our samba band, we take our carnival around the community, who come out to watch, dance and cheer us along.