Intent

At Higham, Design and Technology aims to inspire pupils through a broad range of practical experiences to design and make innovative products that solve real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts. Pupils are encouraged to become creative, resilient and reflective problem-solvers who work both independently and collaboratively. They develop an understanding of the iterative design process by designing, making, testing, evaluating and refining products to meet the needs of a user or purpose. Throughout the curriculum, pupils investigate and evaluate existing products, develop technical knowledge of materials, mechanisms, structures, electrical systems and food, and apply skills and knowledge from subjects such as mathematics, science, computing and art where appropriate. Through increasingly challenging projects, pupils learn to take informed risks, innovate and make reasoned design decisions.

Implementation

Our Design and Technology curriculum is carefully sequenced to build pupils' knowledge, understanding and practical skills progressively throughout the school. Each unit enables pupils to investigate existing products, develop design criteria, generate ideas, select appropriate materials and components, and apply an increasing range of making techniques. Pupils are taught to test, evaluate and refine their work throughout the design process, recognising that improvements are made through continual reflection and modification. Technical vocabulary is explicitly taught and revisited within every unit to support pupils in explaining their thinking and evaluating products. Food and nutrition education develops pupils' understanding of healthy eating, seasonality, food preparation and cooking skills. Carefully planned, well-resourced lessons enable pupils to understand how design and technology has shaped the modern world while developing the confidence to become innovative designers.

Impact

Pupils leave Higham with the confidence to design, make and evaluate purposeful products using an increasingly sophisticated range of materials, tools and techniques. They demonstrate secure knowledge of the design process, understand how products are developed to meet the needs of users and can explain the reasoning behind their design decisions using accurate technical vocabulary. Pupils show creativity, resilience and independence when solving problems and refining their work. They make meaningful links between Design and Technology and other curriculum subjects, recognising the impact of design on everyday life and the wider world. High-quality outcomes, pupil discussions and ongoing assessment demonstrate clear progression in knowledge, skills and understanding across the curriculum.