At Archbishop Cranmer CE Primary Academy, we believe that Design and Technology inspires creativity, innovation and problem-solving, enabling children to design purposeful products that improve everyday life. Through practical experiences, pupils develop the confidence to explore ideas, take creative risks and turn imaginative thinking into successful outcomes.

Through our vision of 'life in all its fullness' (John 10:10), we aim to develop pupils who are creative, resilient and reflective designers, equipped with the knowledge and skills to design, make and evaluate products that meet the needs of real users.

Our Design and Technology curriculum is carefully designed to develop:

• creativity, innovation and problem-solving
• confidence in designing, making and evaluating products
• practical skills using a wide range of tools, materials and equipment
• technical understanding of structures, mechanisms, textiles, electrical systems, the digital world, and cooking and nutrition
• resilience, independence and reflective thinking

Through practical, hands-on learning, pupils investigate existing products, generate creative ideas and apply the design process to create purposeful solutions. Children develop substantive knowledge (technical understanding), disciplinary knowledge (thinking and working as designers) and procedural knowledge (the practical skills needed to create products safely and effectively). They learn that successful design is an iterative process, where ideas are tested, evaluated and refined to achieve the best possible outcome. 

Design and Technology learning is enriched through:

• practical design-and-make projects
• STEM challenges and engineering experiences
• cooking and nutrition activities
• opportunities to use electrical systems and digital technologies
• meaningful links across the wider curriculum

Across school, pupils explore the six key areas of Structures, Mechanisms, Textiles, Cooking and Nutrition, Electrical Systems and Digital World. Learning is carefully sequenced through the Kapow Primary curriculum, enabling children to revisit and build upon previous knowledge and skills whilst developing creativity, technical expertise and confidence through increasingly ambitious design challenges. By designing products for real purposes and real users, pupils gain an understanding of how Design and Technology shapes the world around them and prepares them for the future. 

At Archbishop Cranmer, we encourage children to embrace challenge, persevere when ideas need refining and take pride in creating high-quality products. Through our Take Care learning behaviours, pupils become confident, independent designers who understand that thoughtful design, creativity and innovation have the power to improve lives and make a positive difference.

Please explore the documents below to find out more about Design and Technology at Archbishop Cranmer.

Key Documents:

• Design and Technology at Archbishop Cranmer
• Design and Technology On A Page