Our Design and Technology Curriculum

At Telford Junior School, Design and Technology (D&T) is crafted to engage students in the iterative process of designing, making and evaluating, through creative and practical problem-solving tasks. Pupils will explore various materials, tools and techniques to develop their skills and deepen their understanding, enhancing their overall knowledge in the process. We encourage children to use their creativity and imagination to design, make and evaluate projects in a range of contexts. They will have opportunities to solve problems, drawing on their own experiences—or those of others—to consider how to improve existing products.

Our pupils acquire a wide range of skills related to structures, mechanisms, electrical systems, textiles and cooking, including nutrition. D&T also connects with many other subjects in the primary curriculum, particularly the STEM disciplines (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). These skills are developed progressively each year. Cookery lessons emphasise seasonality and help students develop an understanding of where food comes from. Each topic follows a clear sequence of lessons—explore, design, create and evaluate.

The primary goal of the D&T curriculum at Telford Junior School is to encourage pupils to be resourceful, resilient and innovative, while fostering an appreciation for human creativity and achievement.

During our recent review of the D&T curriculum, we talked to the children about their experiences of the subject:

"I like having the idea in my head and then being able to make it come to life." (Year 3 pupil)

"It's the hardest lesson for me, but I manage it. I feel really grateful and proud of what I have made." (Year 4 pupil)

"It's nice to make something you have planned and practised." (Year 5 pupil)

"My favourite was designing and making the buggies. It was hard work, but then it was rewarding when you saw it working, driving across the playground." (Year 6 pupil)