Design and Technology Curriculum Intent

At Radcliffe on Trent Junior School, we believe that Design and Technology gives children the opportunity to imagine, design and create purposeful solutions to real-world problems. Our curriculum is ambitious, practical and inclusive, enabling every child to develop the knowledge, skills and confidence to think and work as a designer.

Through our commitment to Making Learning Memorable, pupils develop their understanding of materials, structures, mechanisms, electrical systems, textiles, cooking and nutrition. They learn to investigate existing products, consider the needs of users, generate and communicate ideas, make purposeful products and evaluate how successfully they meet their intended purpose. As pupils move through the school, they revisit and build upon previous learning, tackling increasingly complex design challenges with greater precision, creativity and independence.

Our school values are woven naturally through Design and Technology. Pupils Be Curious as they investigate how products work and explore possible solutions; Be Brave as they test ideas, take creative risks and learn when designs do not work as expected; and Be Kind as they listen to others, collaborate effectively and design thoughtfully with the needs of different users in mind.

Pupils learn that designing is an iterative process. They research, design, make, test, evaluate and refine their ideas, using technical knowledge and increasingly informed decisions to improve their work. Where meaningful, they also draw upon learning from subjects such as maths, science, computing and art, helping them understand how knowledge can be applied to solve practical problems.

By the time pupils leave ROTJS, we want them to have the knowledge, practical skills, curiosity and confidence to design and make with purpose. They will be increasingly resourceful and independent problem solvers who can evaluate their ideas, respond positively to challenges and understand how design, technology and innovation can make a difference to people's lives.