Intent
At Hardwicke, Design and Technology (DT) is a valued part of the curriculum, encouraging all children to become creative, resourceful, and reflective problem-solvers. Rooted in our Christian ethos and guided by our core value to “Do everything in love” (1 Corinthians 16:14), we strive to create a DT curriculum that nurtures compassion, collaboration, and thoughtful design. Pupils are taught to appreciate the needs of others in the products they design, showing empathy and care—reflecting the love we are called to demonstrate in our learning and in our relationships with one another.
Our DT curriculum is ambitious, inclusive, and progressive. It aims to develop children’s understanding of real-world problems, equipping them with the skills to design and make purposeful products, evaluate their work, and understand the role of technology in society. We ensure all pupils, regardless of background or ability, are supported to achieve their potential and take pride in their achievements.
At Hardwicke, we recognize the importance of equipping our children with the knowledge and skills needed to make healthy food choices and maintain a balanced diet. Given the unique needs and circumstances of our demographic, we believe it is essential that all students learn how to prepare food confidently and understand the principles of nutrition from an early age. To support this, we have made healthy eating and food preparation a key focus across every year group, ensuring that these vital life skills are embedded throughout their learning journey. This consistent approach helps our pupils develop lifelong habits that contribute to their overall well-being.
Implementation
Design and Technology is delivered through carefully planned, practical, and creative projects that link to real-life contexts. Each unit follows the Investigate, design, make, evaluate cycle, and is underpinned by technical knowledge and skills progression. We ensure high-quality teaching through clear modelling, collaborative learning, and hands-on experience with materials, structures, mechanisms, and food.
To support our school values:
- Children consider the needs of others in design briefs, promoting compassion.
- Teamwork and collaboration are encouraged, reflecting kindness and shared purpose.
- Children reflect on how their products can benefit others, cultivating thoughtful citizenship.
Inclusion and Support for All Learners
We are committed to ensuring that all children, including those with SEND, can access and succeed in DT. Lessons are can be differentiated to meet individual needs through adapted resources, scaffolded tasks, and additional adult support. Where necessary, pupils are supported with pre-teaching of vocabulary, use of visual aids, and tailored instructions to build confidence and independence. DT allows a variety of ways for pupils to record and share their ideas, such as drawings, models, or verbal explanations.
For EAL pupils, we ensure equitable access to resources and meaningful participation in DT projects. Visual instructions, simplified language, and sentence starters could be used to support EAL learners, while key vocabulary is explicitly taught and reinforced. Pupils are closely monitored to ensure consistent engagement and progress, with practical learning experiences tailored to build cultural capital and hands-on confidence. We prioritise inclusion by celebrating all efforts and encouraging pride in achievements.
Impact
The impact of our DT curriculum is seen in children who are enthusiastic, reflective, and thoughtful designers. They demonstrate resilience, creativity, and pride in their work, understanding that their designs can make a difference in the lives of others. Pupils develop technical and problem-solving skills that prepare them for real-life challenges and opportunities.
Assessment is ongoing through observation, discussion, and evaluation of finished products. Both children and teachers carry this out. By the end of each key stage, pupils are expected to know, apply, and understand the key concepts and processes of DT.
Ultimately, our DT provision shapes children who approach design with purpose and empathy—living out our mission to “do everything in love”, creating not just for themselves, but for the good of others