Mrs S Cribb - Design & Technology Leader.

Design & Technology at Birchwood Junior School

Inspiring creativity, innovation and problem-solving

Design & Technology is an inspiring, rigorous and practical subject. At Birchwood Junior School, pupils use creativity and imagination to design and make products that solve real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts. They learn to consider the needs of both themselves and others, evaluate their work carefully, and suggest improvements—developing resilience and independence along the way.

Through Design & Technology, our children gain a broad knowledge base, drawing on skills from Mathematics, Science, Art, and Computing. They are encouraged to take risks, think critically, and become resourceful, innovative and enterprising.

How We Teach Design & Technology

At Birchwood Junior School, we aim to deliver an exciting and engaging Design & Technology curriculum through a wide variety of approaches:

• Practical lessons – hands-on experiences where children design, create and test their products.

• Art and Design skill development – enhancing creativity and attention to detail.

• Cross-curricular links – using knowledge from Maths, Science, Art and Computing to strengthen understanding and application.

Children are given regular opportunities to explore and evaluate past and present designs, understanding how they have shaped modern society. This helps them approach their own projects with a critical and reflective mindset.

Learning in Action

Throughout their time at Birchwood, pupils are encouraged to:

• Take risks when designing and making.

• Work with a wide range of resources and materials.

• Evaluate prototypes and refine their creations.

• Develop problem-solving and critical thinking skills.

• Build on artistic, scientific and technological knowledge.

Lessons are designed to be hands-on and engaging, allowing children to deepen their understanding of the technological world while building their confidence to experiment and innovate.

Our Vision

We want our pupils to leave Birchwood Junior School with:

• A love of Design & Technology.

• The imagination to create and innovate.

• The critical thinking skills to solve problems.

• An understanding of how design shapes the world around them.

Our guiding principles are built on age-appropriate, government-aligned knowledge, enriched with themes developed in consultation with parents and pupils. We teach with sensitivity, inclusivity and respect for the diverse backgrounds and beliefs within our community.