DT
Design Curriculum Intent
The Design and Technology curriculum is a broad, balanced, and carefully structured to embed key knowledge, practical skills, and design thinking over time. Our aim is to equip students with the breadth and depth of learning needed to become confident, capable, and creative problem solvers, ready for GCSE and future pathways in design and engineering.
From Years 7 to 9, students are introduced to the core disciplines within Design and Technology, including Product Design, Engineering and Graphics. They gain hands-on experience with a wide range of materials, tools, equipment, and digital software. Lessons incorporate health and safety, sustainability, and the environmental and social impacts of design. Cross-curricular links with Maths, Science, Art, and Computer Science strengthen their understanding and application of knowledge in real-world contexts.
Students are encouraged to follow the iterative design process—investigating, generating, developing, and evaluating ideas. They build prototypes and products to meet user needs and are guided to critically reflect on their work and that of others. Through this, they improve technical accuracy, presentation, and problem-solving.
At Key Stage 4, students deepen their skills through targeted work aligned with GCSE assessment objectives: AO1 (research and investigate), AO2 (design and make), and AO3 (evaluate and analyse). Emphasis is placed on applying creative thinking and technical knowledge to solve complex challenges.
Teaching focuses on developing key transferable skills: communication, collaboration, adaptability, and independence. Pupils will explore skills while also understanding core, technical and designing principles.
Design and Technology prepares students for a fast-changing technological world. Our goal is to nurture innovative and responsible designers who understand the impact of their decisions, are confident in their skills, and are ready to shape the future through thoughtful and purposeful design.
Curriculum Implementation – Curriculum Map
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Autumn 1 |
Autumn 2 |
Spring 1 |
Spring 2 |
Summer 1 |
Summer 2 |
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Year 7 |
Introduction to D&T
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Theme: Sustainability Wooden Key |
Theme: Sustainability Plastic Key |
Theme Home: |
Theme Home: |
Theme Home:
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Year 8 |
Theme: Movement |
Theme: Movement
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Theme: Entertainment |
Theme Home: |
Theme: Movement |
Theme Home: |
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Year 9 |
Theme: Board Games |
Theme: Board Games
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Theme: Gaming |
Theme: Gaming |
Theme: Storage |
Theme: Storage |
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Year 10 |
Technical drawings and sketches. One, two points perspectives, Isometric and Orthographic drawings |
Theme: Sound |
Theme: Sound
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Core and Technical principles. |
Theme: Lighting Making and evaluating a solution for sound. |
NEA Section A&B
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Year 11 |
NEA Section C |
NEA Section D |
NEA Section E & F |
GCSE revision C. Design and Making |
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Year 12 |
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NEA Section A&B |
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Year 13 |
NEA Section C |
NEA Section D |
NEA Section E Evaluating the Product against the specification |
A Level Revision Paper 2: |
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Texts and Exam Boards
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Year 7- 9 |
Year 10-11 |
Year 12-13 |
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Core texts
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Exam board: AQA Core texts Collins AQA GCSE 9-1 Design and Technology Revision and Practice |
Exam board: AQA Core texts Hodder Education: AQA Design and Technology Product Design Skills for Design and Technology |
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Useful resources |
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www.technologystudent.co.uk |
https://www.thenational.academy
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