Design and Technology is a valued part of the curriculum at Nancledra School. It gives children the opportunity to develop practical skills, think creatively, and solve real problems through designing and making. Our aim is to nurture confident, resourceful learners who can take an idea from concept to finished product.
Through our D&T curriculum, pupils learn to:
• select and use appropriate materials and tools safely
• refine, adapt, and improve their ideas
• evaluate their work critically against design criteria
• work both independently and collaboratively
• apply knowledge from a wide range of subjects, including mathematics, science, engineering, computing and art
We believe that children make the best progress when they experience a balance of direct teaching, teamwork and independent exploration. They are given opportunities to experiment, investigate and build models and structures, developing both their technical understanding and their creative thinking.
Our Approach
At Nancledra, our Design and Technology curriculum is built around clear progression, hands‑on learning and the development of practical problem‑solving skills. Children explore a range of concepts including:
• mechanisms and mechanical systems
• structures and stability
• electrical systems
• textiles and materials
• food and nutrition
Our carefully sequenced curriculum enables pupils to revisit and deepen key ideas over time. We place strong emphasis on understanding how things work, why materials behave as they do and how products are designed to meet specific needs. Children learn to research, plan, prototype, test and evaluate—mirroring the authentic processes used by real designers and engineers.
Preparing Children for a Technological World
Design and Technology at Nancledra prepares pupils for life in an increasingly technological society. By teaching technical knowledge alongside designing and making skills, we help children develop the confidence to tackle practical challenges and create purposeful solutions.
The subject stimulates both intellectual and creative abilities and nurtures the personal qualities needed to complete a design project—from initial ideas, through planning and making, to evaluating the final product. Above all, it encourages curiosity, resilience and pride in craftsmanship.