At Rode and Norton St Philip, our Design and Technology curriculum is designed to promote creative thinking and opportunities for practical experience. It aims to provide students with exciting opportunities to explore a wide range of skills which include problem solving, teamwork, design and the practical skills required to apply these to a variety of projects.

During our sewing topics, children learn the art of stitching, fabric manipulation, and textile design. Through hands-on projects, they are encouraged to create their own fabric-based items. These include Christmas tree decorations, bags to take with them on a journey, and puppets. Students develop fine motor skills, an understanding of patterns, and learn about fabric types, colours, and textures.

Our cookery sessions allow children to explore the world of food, developing practical kitchen skills and foster a love for cooking. Students learn the basics of food preparation, hygiene, and nutrition, alongside how to follow recipes and use kitchen equipment safely. From making simple fruit salads to preparing a full hot meal, children also explore the cultural significance of food and develop a deeper appreciation for the food they eat.

At Rode and Norton, we believe children deserve the opportunity to get hands on with a variety of woodworking tools and techniques. Children use real tools and materials to create their own wooden projects, learning how to measure, cut, shape, and finish their work. This helps them gain an understanding of materials, design, and construction, all while developing hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills. Of course, safety is paramount; therefore we teach focused sessions about how to stay safe when doing woodwork.

Our curriculum also explores mechanisms and how they work. Our children experiment with simple machines, pulleys, levers, and gears to understand how forces and movements interact. They are then encouraged to apply what they have learned to design and build their own moving models, before thinking about how they could improve on their designs.

At the end of each Spring Term, we challenge the students to apply the skills they’ve learned in their design and technology lessons by creating an egg-themed structure. Each year, the challenge varies – past projects have included Easter bonnets, egg marble mazes, boats and planes. This exciting project allows the children to explore and develop a wide range of design and technology skills to an independent project.