Brockmoor Primary School: Design and Technology Curriculum

A Curriculum That Develops Innovative Thinkers, Problem-Solvers, and Skilled Designers

At Brockmoor Primary School, we believe that Design and Technology (D&T) is an essential subject that fosters creativity, problem-solving, and practical skills from the early years onwards. Our CUSP (Curriculum with Unity Schools Partnership) Design and Technology Curriculum is structured to ensure that pupils:

🛠 Develop technical knowledge and practical skills – Learning how to design, make, evaluate, and apply knowledge across a range of disciplines.
🎨 Engage in creative problem-solving – Applying engineering, design, and material knowledge to real-world challenges.
🥗 Understand the importance of nutrition and food technology – Developing food preparation skills and healthy eating knowledge from EYFS onwards.
⚙ Explore mechanical and electrical systems – Understanding how things work and how to improve them.
🌱 Develop environmental awareness and sustainability skills – Encouraging the use of recycled materials and eco-friendly design solutions.

Our ambition is that every child leaves EYFS and Key Stage 2 with a strong foundation in practical design skills, problem-solving ability, and the confidence to innovate.

As part of our commitment to enriching the D&T curriculum, we are currently working towards achieving the Quality Mark for Design and Technology, ensuring that the high standards of our provision are recognised and continually enhanced. Additionally, we are hosting the CUSP Food Festival, celebrating food technology, healthy eating, and culinary creativity while giving pupils the opportunity to develop and showcase their practical cooking skills.

Design and Technology in EYFS: Early Foundations

In EYFS, D&T is embedded within "Creating with Materials" and "Understanding the World," where children develop:

🛠 Early making and constructing skills – Cutting, shaping, and assembling materials using simple tools.
🎨 Exploration of materials – Understanding properties of paper, fabric, wood, and plastics.
🥗 Early food preparation knowledge – Exploring healthy eating, textures, and basic food handling.
🔄 Design thinking – Planning and modifying models through play and discussion.

Through continuous provision and structured play, children:

🏗 Build models using construction kits, blocks, and recycled materials.
✂️ Learn to use scissors, glue, and other simple tools safely.
🍏 Explore textures and changes in food through cooking activities.
🔍 Investigate how things move and work, linking to mechanisms in Key Stage 1.

This early exposure to designing, making, and evaluating prepares children for the more structured curriculum in Key Stage 1 and beyond.

A Structured and Progressive Design and Technology Curriculum

The CUSP Design and Technology Curriculum is structured into blocks, covering:

✅ Mechanisms – Exploring levers, pulleys, gears, and axles.
✅ Structures – Investigating stability, strength, and materials.
✅ Food and Nutrition – Developing food preparation skills and healthy eating knowledge.
✅ Textiles – Understanding materials, weaving, and stitching techniques.
✅ Electrical Systems – Exploring circuits, switches, and motors.
✅ Understanding Materials – Learning about material properties, suitability, and sustainable alternatives.

The Structure of a CUSP D&T Lesson

Each CUSP Design and Technology lesson follows a structured format, ensuring pupils develop a deep understanding of design, materials, and function:

1. Activating Prior Knowledge

🔹 Pupils revisit and retrieve previously taught skills and techniques.
🔹 Discussions encourage links to prior learning and real-world applications.

2. Vocabulary and Disciplinary Knowledge

📖 Explicit teaching of technical vocabulary, ensuring pupils can articulate design concepts.
🛠 Understanding core principles such as stability, functionality, and precision.

3. Design and Modelling

✍ Pupils sketch, annotate, and plan designs using age-appropriate techniques.
🎨 Use of templates, prototypes, and 3D modelling.

4. Making and Practical Application

🛠 Pupils construct, assemble, and test their designs using a variety of materials.
⚡ Incorporation of mechanisms, electrical systems, and textiles where appropriate.

5. Evaluation and Refinement

📝 Pupils critically assess their work, discussing strengths, areas for improvement, and potential refinements.
🔄 Peer and self-evaluation activities encourage reflection and refinement.

This structured approach ensures that pupils engage with D&T as both an academic and practical subject, developing real-world skills.

Design and Technology at Brockmoor: Local Context

At Brockmoor Primary School, we ensure our curriculum connects to the local industrial heritage, allowing pupils to:

🏭 Explore the area’s history in glassmaking, metalwork, and engineering.
🔎 Investigate how traditional skills influence modern design and manufacturing.
🌍 Engage with local industries and professionals to understand real-world applications of D&T.

These local links make learning meaningful and relevant, helping pupils understand the impact of design and technology in their community.

Assessment: Tracking Progress in D&T

📊 Sketchbooks and Design Portfolios – Tracking progression in planning, execution, and evaluation.
🛠 Practical Demonstrations – Assessing application of skills in cutting, joining, finishing, and assembling.
📖 Oracy and Vocabulary Use – Encouraging pupils to articulate design choices and technical knowledge.
🔍 Product Evaluation – Pupils assess their own and peers' work against success criteria and real-world functionality.

Assessment in CUSP D&T is formative, skill-based, and designed to track practical application and technical understanding.

The Impact: What Our D&T Curriculum Achieves

By the time pupils leave Brockmoor Primary, they are:

🛠 Creative, confident designers – Able to generate, develop, and communicate ideas effectively.
🌍 Technically proficient – Equipped with practical skills in construction, mechanisms, and food technology.
🔎 Critical thinkers and evaluators – Able to assess and refine their work and the work of others.
📖 Well-prepared for KS3 and beyond – With a strong foundation in problem-solving and technical skills.

CUSP Design and Technology ensures that every child leaves primary school with real-world skills and a love for innovation, with strong foundations built from EYFS.

Further Enrichment in Design and Technology

🏆 Quality Mark for Design and Technology – We are working towards this accreditation to ensure our provision is nationally recognised for excellence.
🍲 CUSP Food Festival – We are hosting this exciting event, where pupils will showcase their culinary skills, explore food technology, and learn about nutrition in hands-on, engaging ways.

These additional opportunities ensure that D&T is not just a subject but a key part of our school’s identity and culture.

Further Information

For more details, including:
📌 CUSP D&T Curriculum Overviews
📌 Sketchbook Exemplification Materials
📌 Local Industry Links and Enrichment Opportunities

Please contact our Curriculum Lead, Tom Amphlett, at info@brockmoor.dudley.sch.uk. 🚀