What are the aims and purpose of our curriculum?

This curriculum develops pupils’ knowledge of and skills in design applied through the designing and making of prototypes. Pupils build design and technology capability by solving real-world problems in context-led units. They will evaluate their work and the work of others and critique how developments in design and technology impact the world's social, moral, and ethical issues. This will enable pupils to become responsible designers, citizens and consumers.

What overarching curriculum principles inform the design of our curriculum?

This principle recognises the important role that knowledge, and vocabulary as a particularly important type of knowledge, play in learning. Declarative knowledge, such as how products and systems function and using the work of designers to inform design decisions is woven alongside procedural knowledge such as the processes and methods used in design and technology and how to design using digital and physical strategies with increasing complexity over time. We identify and map vocabulary across the curriculum, both in terms of introducing new vocabulary and the necessary repetition of vocabulary that has gone before, focusing on materials, processes and design strategies. New vocabulary, called keywords, are signalled in bold in our lesson materials to indicate their importance.

A careful and purposeful sequencing of our curriculum content underpins the design of our curriculum, ensuring that pupils can build on and make links with existing knowledge. For example, when pupils ‘make’ in year 1 there is a focus on the use of scissors when working with paper to make simple structures. Simple joining techniques, such as pinning and stitching, are taught when working with textiles. This progresses to pupils selecting techniques with confidence, such as complex folding to produce shell structures when working with paper and incorporating fasteners and decorative stitching with textiles. Attention is paid to vertical coherence via threads, which map the developments of concepts over time; for example, in our ‘systems’ thread, pupils are taught about levers and linkages in year 2 through to designing a control system for a greenhouse in year 10.

Our evidence-informed approach enables the rigorous application of research outcomes, science of learning and impactful best practice both in education in general and at a subject specific level. For example, the design of our resources reflects findings from Sweller’s cognitive load theory and Mayer’s principles of multimedia learning whilst our lesson design draws on Rosenshine’s principles of instruction. We also draw on findings from research organisations such as the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF). At the subject level the curriculum is informed by the work of the Design and Technology Association including the principles identified in ‘Characteristics of a Genuine D&T Experience Within the School Curriculum’ and their ‘Progression Framework’ which was developed in collaboration with the National Curriculum Expert Group for Design and Technology.

Our flexible approach enables schools to use our resources in a way that fits their contents and meets the varying needs of teachers and their pupils. Our curriculum can be used in its entirety or units can be selected to complement existing curricula or to match the equipment and materials available to the school. Our resources are adaptable so that, for example, teachers can edit or add checks for understanding or adapt practice tasks to better reflect the prior knowledge of their pupils. For example, in the year 8 unit ‘Ergonomic design: accessible controllers’, an alternative accessible product could be used, and in key stage 4 materials can be varied within units. At key stage 4 teachers and pupils can select a pathway aligned to the most frequently used exam board specifications for GCSE Design and Technology: AQA, Edexcel or Eduqas.

Our commitment to breadth and diversity in content, language, texts and media can be seen in the curriculum, for example in the group of diverse school age characters that feature in our resources. Pupils are exposed to designers and practices from around the world: for example the year 6 unit ‘Products and people: inspirational design’ introduces pupils to the work of the female Iraqi/British architect Zara Hadid. When working with textiles, pupils learn about the work of British fashion designer Virgil Abloh alongside more widely known designers such as Vivienne Westwood.

Our curriculum is intentionally designed to facilitate high-quality teaching as a powerful lever to support pupils with SEND. Aligned with EEF guidance, our resources have a focus on clear explanations, modelling and frequent checks for understanding, with guided and independent practice. Lessons are chunked into learning cycles, demonstration videos used to support explanations where appropriate, and redundant images and information are minimised to manage cognitive load. We have removed reference to year groups in our resources so that they can be used when pupils are ready, regardless of their age. Our resources are purposefully created to be accessible, for example by using accessible fonts, colours with good contrast, and captions in our videos.

What subject specific principles inform the design of our curriculum?

Focuses on the knowledge and skills specific to design and technology, including the fundamentals, integration and application of:

designing (including communication, understanding contexts and users, iterative design strategies and avoiding fixation);

making (including techniques, tools, processes, equipment and machinery, materials and components);

evaluating (including ideas and products, past and present designers, new and emerging technologies);

technical knowledge (including structures, properties of materials, electronic and mechanical systems).

Our curriculum aligns learning with the national curriculum subject content of design, make, evaluate, and technical knowledge. In order to allow pupils to develop a broad capability in design and technology these content areas are taught through units that focus on the interrelated areas of design and making, mainly designing, mainly making and exploring technology and society. An example is the ‘mainly designing’ unit ‘CAD structures: architecture’ at key stage 2, where pupils will focus on designing a sustainable house without having to make a complex model. Where possible, units are taught through a context, giving authenticity to learning while building pupils' empathy through designing for others.

Facilitates the appropriate use of restrictive (a focus on specific tasks and procedures) and expansive (where autonomy and creativity are encouraged) approaches to how pupils apply knowledge.

Knowledge is applied through the appropriate use of restrictive and expansive approaches. A restrictive approach is one with a focus on specific tasks and procedures, an example of which is the year 7 unit, ‘Principles of Materials and Manufacturing,’ where pupils handle, shape, and join sheet materials using different manufacturing processes. Whereas an expansive approach enables pupil autonomy to create their own designs, an example of which is ‘Functional Prototypes: Wearable Technology’ in key stage 3, where pupils design and manufacture a wearable technology product of their own design.

Applies our diversity principle by exposing pupils to the wider influences on design and technology including historical, social, cultural, environmental and economic factors.

Our curriculum teaches pupils about a wide range of influences to help them understand the diverse nature of the subject. In key stage 1, pupils will be inspired by designs from Isambard Kingdom Brunel, Emily Roebling, Ove Arup and Satoshi Kashima. In the secondary curriculum pupils will learn about the environmental, social, and moral issues of designing products. For example, in key stage 4, pupils will be introduced to ‘The Washing Machine Project’ to understand issues faced by people in lower income countries.

How does our curriculum reflect the aims & purpose of the national curriculum?

The national curriculum for design and technology has four aims, three relating to design and technology and one to cooking and nutrition. Here we discuss how our curriculum enacts the three design and technology aims.

The first aim is to ensure pupils ‘develop the creative, technical, and practical expertise needed to perform everyday tasks confidently and participate successfully in an increasingly technological world’. Pupils will build confidence by working with a range of materials, focusing on paper, card, textiles and timbers at primary, with polymers and metals introduced at secondary. With increasing complexity, pupils will develop technical and practical expertise when using tools, processes, equipment and machinery, both physically and digitally. In year 1, they will confidently and safely use scissors. Sawing of timbers is introduced in year 2. They will be taught how to animate mechanisms using the latest computer-aided design (CAD) software in year 7. In year 10, they will use AI to aid creativity while learning about its limitations.

The second aim is that pupils should ‘build and apply a repertoire of knowledge, understanding, and skills to design and make high-quality prototypes and products for a wide range of users’. Pupils will be taught to design and make for a wide range of users. Examples include designing an interactive book for younger children in year 4 and making an accessible product for someone with limited dexterity in year 5. In secondary, pupils will learn how to promote a product for a toy company in year 7 and design a product to support new parents in year 9.

The final design and technology aim is for pupils to ‘critique, evaluate, and test their ideas, products, and the work of others’. The importance of this aim is highlighted by the existence of a thread entitled ‘critique and evaluate’ which maps the progression of this over time. In year 3, pupils will critique the sustainability of packaging and how its environmental impact can be reduced. Later in year 8, they will evaluate the ergonomics of their work to suggest improvements. In year 4 and in year 9, pupils will test electrical systems to find faults and make improvements.

What teaching time does our curriculum require?

Our curricula for key stages 1-3 are designed for 36 weeks of curriculum time across the school year, which leaves time for other activities both within and beyond the curriculum, such as assessments or school trips. At key stage 4, year 10 also has 36 weeks of curriculum time, but year 11 has only 24 weeks (approximately 2 terms) to recognise that schools will not be teaching new content in the run-up to the GCSE exams. 

At key stages 1-3, our design and technology and cooking and nutrition curricula have been presented independently on our platform, for ease of use by teachers. These curricula have been designed to offer a weekly lesson in all years, approximately 40 minutes long in key stages 1-2 and an hour at key stage 3. We understand that exact time dedicated to design and technology and cooking and nutrition can vary greatly between schools due to differences in curriculum planning, resource allocation, and school-specific priorities. Therefore we fully expect and encourage teachers to adapt our resources to suit their needs and timetable structure.

At key stage 4 for design and technology we have provided approximately two lessons per week, which also takes into account examined and non-examined assessment time. In places there may be more lessons in the sequence to allow for flexibility across exam boards and unit options focused on different materials. Oak is not currently offering cooking and nutrition at key stage 4.

We use threads to signpost groups of units that link to one another, that together build a common body of knowledge over time. We use the term thread, rather than vertical concepts, themes or big ideas, because it helps to bring to mind the visual concept of a thread weaving through the curriculum.

Our design and technology threads weave through both our primary and secondary curricula with the exception of one thread. This one thread still spans key stages 1 to 4 but is called ‘make’ at primary and ‘manufacture’ at secondary to reflect the language of the national curriculum and exam board specifications. In alphabetical order, our threads are:

Our choice of threads has been informed by the design and technology national curriculum subject content areas of ‘design’, ‘make’, ‘evaluate’ and ‘technical knowledge’ and the Design and Technology Associations’ ‘Characteristics of a genuine D&T experience within the school curriculum’ and ‘Progression Framework’. Consistent threads across our primary and secondary curricula can enable more effective transition, helping pupils to bridge their knowledge and understanding from primary to secondary. For example, the thread ‘user-centred design’ is developed through all years of the curriculum, with increasing complexity of design and user requirements as seen through the following units:

Year 1 unit ‘Templates in Textiles’ - pupils make a product for a younger child

Year 2 unit ‘Freestanding structures’- pupils design a playground structure for a school environment.

Year 6 unit ‘Systems and control unit’ - pupils program an alarm system for a museum

Year 7 unit ‘Prototypes with mechanisms’- pupils use digital design to create a promotional display for a company

Year 8 unit ‘Ergonomic design’ - pupils improve the design of game controllers to make them more accessible for users.

Year 9 unit ‘Developments in new materials’ - pupils develop knowledge of smart and modern materials and apply this to designing a product to support new parents.

Recommendations from subject specific reports

How does our curriculum address and enact recommendations from subject specific reports (e.g. EEF guidance reports & Ofsted Research Review)?

Our curriculum is aligned with the Design and Technology Association's ‘Characteristics of a genuine D&T experience within the school curriculum’, which describes the features of a genuine design and technology experience from the pupils’ perspective. Through the characteristic of authenticity, pupils design and make products that are believable, real and meaningful to themselves and others. For example, in key stage 2, pupils will make a stationery storage product to develop their knowledge of joining techniques when working with woven fabrics. In key stage 3, pupils will work together to design and batch manufacture tactile toys for children.

Although the Ofsted subject report for design and technology is still pending publication, we have consulted with them to ensure we are drawing on evidence-based research.

How does our curriculum deal with elements that arise from the specific needs of the subject?

How are design and technology, and cooking and nutrition organised in the curriculum?

At key stages 1-3, our design and technology, and cooking and nutrition curricula have been presented separately to help teachers find cooking and nutrition content quickly and easily and to signpost the importance of cooking and nutrition as a body of knowledge. Each subject area has been carefully sequenced so that they can be taught independently or together. Cooking and nutrition has approximately one third of the curriculum time compared to design and technology. Each subject has its own distinct group of threads. At key stage 4 we currently only offer a design and technology curriculum.

What tools, equipment and materials are required to teach the design and technology curriculum?

Careful consideration has been given to the equipment and space needed to teach the curriculum. We understand that resources are limited, especially within primary schools. Design and technology is a practical subject and therefore most lessons involve some practical activity. When designing, pupils will communicate their ideas through discussion, peer feedback, sketching, and producing mock-ups out of card and board. When making, they will cut, shape and join paper, card, wood, and textiles through context-led units. They will use construction kits when building structures and make mechanisms out of card and wood when exploring systems. Pneumatic systems are modelled using bottles and syringes in key stage 2. Computer-aided design is used in both key stage 1 and key stage 2, and Micro:bits are used in key stage 2 to develop knowledge of electrical and programmable systems.

At secondary, pupils will use a variety of approaches when designing to create ideas. They will communicate using sketches, physical and digital models, and oral and digital presentation techniques. When designing and manufacturing at key stage 3, units will have an example for each product or system which can be adapted by teachers. For example, in the year 8 unit ‘Collaborative design’, this will be a timber based product. In year 9, the ‘Developments in new materials’ smart material will be used within a product. Computer-aided design and manufacture are used from year 7. Systems knowledge from key stage 2 is further developed using Micro:bits in year 9. Our secondary curriculum can be adapted to suit the needs of the schools depending on their available materials, tools, equipment, and processes.

Design and Technology Association

 supports, develops and promotes high-quality design and technology teaching and learning as an essential part of the rounded education of all young people. They link schools and students with the world of business, manufacturing and industry and lobby government and key decision-makers to ensure that the subject’s value is duly recognised and supported.

Use this KS3 and KS4 design and technology curriculum plan to develop pupils’ creativity, problem-solving and practical skills. The curriculum introduces core principles in materials, systems, user-centred design and sustainability. You can follow the full sequence or adapt units to complement your school’s broader D&T provision.

Threads such as 'materials', 'sustainability and climate change', 'design for others' and 'evaluating impact' help you map how theoretical knowledge and practical skills build across units and year groups.

You can find the full lesson resources for 

 design and technology and download all the resources you need for free.

Secondary

Design and technology

Key Stage 1

Key Stage 2

Key Stage 3

Key Stage 4

Primary

Art and design

Core

GCSE

Citizenship

Computing

Cooking and nutrition

Edexcel

Eduqas

English

French

Edexcel B

Geography

German

History

Maths

Music

Physical education

Science

Spanish

Religious education

Critique and evaluate

Design

Manufacture

Materials

Sustainability and climate change

Systems

User-centred design

Pupils will analyse products to identify features in the products.  They will also identify the materials, material properties and manufacturing processes used to create the products.  They will   conduct functional tests to collect and analyse data to inform design decisions.

Why and how designers analyse products

Timber properties and processes

Polymer properties and processes

Metal properties and processes

Testing citrus fruit juicers

Form versus function fruit juicers

The work of other designers

Anthropometrics and ergonomics 

Basic 3D sketching

Advanced 3D sketching

Mastering 3D sketching

Product analysis: encouraging healthy lifestyles

Pupils will develop knowledge of electronic components and a systems approach to designing. They will learn about different components and use these to build and test circuits for different purposes. They will design a system to control a greenhouse environment, considering the different variables.

Systems approach to design

Input components

Monitor temperature and moisture

LEDs and Display

Clock and sensors

Data logging

Electronic calculations

Physical testing of systems

Parametric feature-based CAD

Part design in CAD

Assembly design in CAD

Drawings in CAD

Design for 3D printing

3D printing

Assemble systems

Test and refine systems

Systems approach to design: Sustainable Futures

Pupils learn about biomimicry and innovation.  They will learn how to use sources of inspiration to create a range of ideas for a product encouraging children to grow vegetables. The pupils will develop ideas and manufacture a prototype.  Variation allows for different material outcomes.

Biomimicry

Identify environmental impact

Product requirements

Innovation when generating ideas

Generating design ideas using SCAMPER

Using feedback to develop ideas

AI to develop ideas

Proportions and scale: papers and boards

Materials and manufacturing processes: papers and boards

Plan manufacture using orthographic projection: papers and boards

Parts lists: papers and boards

Time planning: papers and boards

Mark out and prepare materials: papers and boards

Tools and processes: papers and boards

Equipment and machinery: papers and boards

Quality control: papers and boards

Evaluate with user feedback: papers and boards

Testing and modifications: papers and boards

Iterative design: Nature

Papers and boards

Polymers and timbers

Textiles

Pupils will identify a client and investigate the client's needs and wants. They will use and develop different research techniques. They will learn about the economic viability of designs to design a product for a high-profile event.

People and places

Bisociation

Interviews

Questionnaires

Present data

Data analysis 

Design security

Branding

Economic viability

Write a design brief based on research

Investigate and research: High profile event

Pupils will use disassembly to investigate an existing piece of flat-pack furniture, including material sources. They will use this information to inform designs. Pupils will focus on user-centred design to create and develop ideas and then plan the manufacturer for a product.

Explore the context and avoid fixation

Disassemble flat pack furniture

Standardised components

Life cycle assessment of flat pack furniture

Define a brief from design opportunities: communal areas

Sketch modelling: communal areas

Iterate with modelling: communal areas

Design development with CAD: communal areas

Iterate with CAD: communal areas

Design for CAM: communal areas

CAM: communal areas

Specialist tools and equipment for manufacture: communal areas

Specialist techniques and processes for manufacture: communal areas

Quality assurance when manufacturing: communal areas

Surface treatments and finishes: communal areas

Commercial viability: communal areas

Market testing: communal areas

Evaluate user needs and wants: communal areas

Iterative design: Student Living

communal areas context

saving space context

This unit develops pupils' ability to empathise when designing. Pupils will evaluate existing products through immersive experiences that mimic challenges some people may encounter. They will use this experience to influence the design of a clothes peg for people with limited dexterity.

Diversity and inclusivity

Empathise using immersive experiences

Inclusive design

Analysis products to identify improvements

Material degradation

Functional testing of products

The aging population

Quick sketching to generate idea

Combine materials when modelling

Iterate using immersive experiences

Evaluate immersive experiences

Manufacturing processes limitations

Exploded drawings to present ideas

Peer evaluation

Inclusive design: An ageing population

This unit develops pupils' knowledge of technology in the world around us.    The pupils consider a case study 'The Washing Machine Project' to empathise with issues faced by people in developing countries.  Pupils develop knowledge of moral and social issues alongside empathy.

KS3 & KS4 design and technology curriculum

Unit sequence

Filter and highlight

Year group

Year 7

Year 8

Year 9

Year 10

Year 11

How to plan your design and technology curriculum with Oak

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