Design & Technology

Design and Technology at Our Lady of the Rosary

At Our Lady of the Rosary, our Design and Technology (D&T) curriculum encourages creativity, curiosity, and problem-solving. Pupils are taught to design, make, and evaluate purposeful products, developing practical skills alongside imagination and innovation. They learn to think critically about how things work and how designs can be improved, fostering independence and resilience.

Our Approach to Teaching Design and Technology

Our D&T curriculum follows a clear sequence of learning from the Early Years to Year 6. Children design, make, and evaluate across a wide range of contexts, including structures, mechanisms, textiles, electrical systems, and cooking and nutrition. Each unit is structured around the process of research, plan, make, and evaluate, allowing pupils to explore ideas, refine their thinking, and learn from real-life examples of designers, engineers, and inventors.

Design and Technology is closely linked with learning in mathematics, science, and art, giving pupils opportunities to apply skills such as measuring, problem-solving, and creative thinking in practical contexts. This helps them see how knowledge from different subjects combines to solve real-world problems.

Retrieval opportunities are built into lessons to help children recall prior knowledge, key vocabulary, and technical understanding. Skills are carefully revisited and refined so that pupils build confidence and accuracy as they move through the school.

Practical learning is central to D&T. Children use tools and materials safely, select resources purposefully, and test out ideas to see what works best. They are encouraged to adapt their designs and learn from their mistakes, mirroring the iterative process used by engineers and designers in the real world.

Cooking and Nutrition

Cooking and nutrition form an important part of our D&T curriculum. Pupils learn where food comes from, how to prepare ingredients safely, and how to make healthy food choices. They explore the importance of seasonality, sustainability, and balance, developing the life skills and knowledge to make informed decisions about what they eat.

Enrichment and Wider Opportunities

Our D&T curriculum is enriched through opportunities that connect classroom learning with real-world contexts. Pupils take part in activities such as Primary Engineer, where they design and build projects that apply science and engineering in practical, creative ways. Visits and workshops provide further inspiration, helping pupils see the relevance of design and technology in everyday life.

Displays and exhibitions across the school celebrate children’s finished projects, demonstrating the progression of skill and creativity from the Early Years to Year 6.

Continuing the Journey

As pupils move through Our Lady of the Rosary, they develop an understanding of how design and technology contribute to daily life and the wider world. They leave equipped with the confidence to solve problems, work collaboratively, and approach challenges with creativity and perseverance, skills that prepare them for the next stage of their learning and for the future beyond school.