“Good design is about making something intelligible and memorable. Great design is about making something memorable and meaningful.” – Dieter Rams

Aims

At Stivichall, we believe that Design and Technology is about more than making - it’s about thinking creatively, solving problems and designing with purpose. We aim to nurture children who are imaginative, resourceful and environmentally conscious; young people who see the world not only as it is, but as it could be, and who have the confidence and skills to shape it.

Our vision is to develop pupils who are innovative designers, critical thinkers, and responsible citizens. Through every aspect of our Design and Technology provision, children are encouraged to see themselves as changemakers with the ability to improve lives through thoughtful, meaningful design.

Curriculum

Our Design and Technology curriculum is rich, purposeful and carefully sequenced to ensure progression in both knowledge and skills. Children engage in a wide range of projects, rooted in real-world contexts, that build technical confidence and promote independence, collaboration and resilience. Whether constructing stable structures, cooking with seasonal ingredients, programming electronic systems or sewing with recycled textiles, pupils take pride in the process and learn that ideas can evolve and improve through thoughtful reflection.

From the earliest years, children are provided with rich and balanced experiences across a broad range of disciplines, enabling children to explore and develop key threshold concepts including food, materials, textiles, electronics, CAD, construction, and mechanics. Through purposeful, hands-on projects, pupils learn to design, make, evaluate, and improve their work, gaining technical competence alongside critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Each unit is rooted in real-world contexts and carefully sequenced to build confidence, creativity, and independence.

Throughout, pupils are inspired by influential designers and engineers from across history, helping them to understand the evolution of design and its role in shaping the world. This approach empowers every child to engage with the subject meaningfully, combining practical knowledge with imagination, innovation and a strong sense of purpose.

Cooking and nutrition

Cooking and nutrition form an important strand of Design and Technology where children learn about healthy eating, food safety and sustainability. Each unit builds confidence in measuring, cutting and preparing food safely. Using seasonal and locally sourced ingredients wherever possible, pupils discover how food connects to the environment and their wellbeing. Lessons encourage curiosity and collaboration, with children taste-testing their own dishes and reviewing those made by peers.

Robotics and Innovation

In Year 5, our VEX Robotics programme introduces pupils to the world of coding, engineering and innovation. Working in teams, children design, build and program robots to complete a variety of challenges. The previous robotics team supports new members each year, passing on skills and experience - a true reflection of Stivichall’s community spirit and culture of shared learning.

This strand of learning strengthens logical thinking, communication and perseverance and reflects the exciting, evolving nature of technology in the world around us.

Forest school and sustainable design

Our commitment to sustainability and eco-conscious design runs through the curriculum. In Forest School, pupils use natural and reclaimed materials to design and build structures. They explore strength, stability and form in a hands-on, explorative way while deepening their connection with the natural world.

Children are encouraged to reuse materials, repair broken items and design responsibly valuing the resources around them. From restoring toys to sewing their own teddy bears using recycled fabrics, pupils understand that design can be creative while being environmentally aware.

Outcomes

Across every strand of Design and Technology - from crafting and cooking to coding and construction - our pupils learn that design is both meaningful and transformative. By the time children leave Stivichall, they are confident in the full design process -from researching and generating ideas to making, evaluating and refining their work. They leave with a strong foundation in practical and technical skills but, more importantly, with the ability to think creatively, solve problems collaboratively and design with care and purpose.

Our pupils learn that mistakes are part of the process and that good design often requires revision, reflection and resilience. They understand how to work independently and in groups, how to communicate ideas clearly and how to take constructive feedback. They also recognise that great design can improve people’s lives and positively impact the planet.

Extending learning beyond school

Design and Technology at Stivichall extends far beyond the classroom. Here are some ideas to carry on your child’s Design and Technology journey at home:

• Take on a sustainability project – design and make something at home by reusing, repurposing and reflecting on the resources. This could be restoring old items, designing a new lunchbox, experimenting with recipes or sewing at home using recycled fabric.
• Family cooking projects - help prepare a meal or bake using seasonal ingredients at home, experimenting with new recipes.
• Community design projects – look out for community-based initiatives, such as designing posters for local events, creating decorations for school or public spaces or helping to build or maintain a community garden or eco-space.
• STEM clubs and competitions – take part in coding clubs, robotics teams, or national design challenges to deepen skills and foster teamwork.
• Make a design portfolios - document design work at home via simple digital portfolios or scrapbooks