Learning beyond the classroom

Design & Technology (DT) at Bradwell Village School gives children the chance to become creative problem-solvers, designers and makers. Through practical, engaging projects, children learn how ideas move from sketches and models to real, working products that improve everyday life. Our curriculum draws on maths, science, computing, engineering and art, so that children see how their learning connects and matters beyond the classroom.

Intent

Our intent is that DT at Bradwell Village School will:

• Inspire children to be curious, creative and confident designers who enjoy making things that have a clear purpose.
• Teach children to solve real and relevant problems, considering the needs, wants and values of different users.
• Build a secure body of technical knowledge, drawing on structures, mechanisms, electrical systems, textiles, computing and food technology.
• Develop resilience and independence as children design, test, improve and evaluate their own products.
• Help children understand how designers, engineers and inventors from the past and present have shaped the world – and how they might do the same in the future.
• Encourage children to think about sustainability, health, safety and the wider impact of design choices on people and the environment.

By the time they leave BVS, we want children to see themselves as capable young designers who can take an idea, refine it and bring it to life.

Implementation

• DT follows a carefully sequenced, knowledge - and skills-based curriculum supported by Cornerstones.
• Cornerstones helps us plan coherent, engaging units that build on key concepts such as structures, mechanisms, textiles, electrical systems and food.
• Learning progresses logically from Year 3 to Year 6 and links to real-life contexts.
• Lessons follow the design–make–evaluate cycle, giving children opportunities to research, design, make and evaluate.
• Practical learning is central, with children using tools, materials and components safely and accurately.
• Technical vocabulary is taught and modelled, so children can explain their ideas confidently.
• Lessons are adapted to ensure all children can access high-quality DT learning.
• In the ASC Unit, DT is delivered through the RF Curriculum, using small, sequenced steps and sensory, practical and structured activities tailored to individual needs.
• Assessment is ongoing through questioning, observation and evaluation of finished work.
• Summative assessments help track progress and raise standards across the subject.

Impact

The impact of DT at Bradwell Village School is seen in children who:

• Talk confidently about the design process, explaining their ideas and how they have improved them.
• Use technical knowledge and practical skills to make high-quality, functional products for specific users and purposes.
• Work safely and sensibly with tools, equipment and materials, taking responsibility for themselves and others.
• Show resilience, creativity and problem-solving skills when things don’t work first time – testing, adjusting and refining rather than giving up.
• Can evaluate their own work and that of others against clear design criteria, offering constructive feedback and suggesting improvements.
• Recognise the role that engineers, designers and inventors play in society, and begin to see possible future pathways for themselves in STEM and creative industries.

By the end of Year 6, children leave BVS with the confidence to tackle new design challenges, the practical skills to turn ideas into reality, and the mindset of thoughtful, responsible young engineers.

Quotes

Engineering is the closest thing to magic that exists in the world. — Elon Musk.

To invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk. – Thomas A. Edison.

You can’t innovate if you don’t experiment – Dame Stephanie (Steve) Shirley – Tech entrepreneur & philanthropist.

Innovation is born from diversity — different perspectives make better solutions – Dr. Ayanna Howard – Roboticist & AI innovator.