Design Technology

Design Technology at Camestone

Welcome to the Camestone School design and technology page. Here you will find information about design and technology at Camestone, detailing the content taught in each year group and the progression of practical design skills throughout a child’s time with us. We follow the Kapow scheme of study and build upon key knowledge of structures, mechanisms, textiles, electrical systems and food technology.

Children have the opportunity to develop their designing and making skills year on year, creating functional products for real-world scenarios. This is further enriched through hands-on construction challenges, cooking sessions and visits from industry professionals, which enhance our core curriculum offer. Families are also encouraged to support practical building and cooking projects at home.

Every child at Camestone completes real design challenges throughout the year, giving them the invaluable experience of planning, building, testing and sharing their products. We also showcase innovative pupil designs during school project exhibitions, celebrating creative engineering and practical problem-solving.

What is Design and Technology?

Design and Technology is the practical application of creative ideas, engineering principles and design skills to make functional products that solve real-world problems.

• To design — understanding how to generate, develop and communicate ideas for specific users and purposes.

• To make — appreciating how to select and safely use appropriate tools, materials and construction techniques.

• To evaluate — recognizing how to test and critique products against design criteria to make improvements.

• To apply nutrition — identifying the principles of a healthy, varied diet and preparing food safely.

Each year, children become more skilled in these key concepts, building upon their prior knowledge and deepening their understanding. Our intention is that by the time they leave us in Year 6, pupils will:

• Design innovative, functional products targeted at specific users, supported by annotated sketches and prototypes.

• Select from and use a wide range of tools, materials and components accurately and safely.

• Critically evaluate their own products and existing technologies, identifying strengths and areas for refinement.

• Apply key culinary techniques to prepare and cook healthy dishes safely and hygienically.