Design & Technology

Design & Technology Curriculum Overview

At Salmons Brook School, Design and Technology (DT) is a dynamic and essential part of the curriculum. Offered as a core subject at Key Stage 3 and as an option at Key Stage 4, DT supports students with EHCPs and SEMH needs to build confidence, problem-solving ability, and hands-on skills that prepare them for real-world challenges. Our curriculum blends creativity, craftsmanship, technical knowledge, and industry insight to develop the next generation of independent, innovative, and capable young designers. 

Intent 

Our DT curriculum aims to: 

  • Enable students to explore, design, make and evaluate products using a wide range of materials and processes, developing high-quality outcomes that are both functional and creative. 

  • Build technical and practical expertise in areas such as woodworking, metalwork, textiles, CAD/CAM, electronics, and construction. 

  • Promote a deep understanding of health and safety, sustainability, product design and cultural relevance through design briefs rooted in real-world contexts. 

  • Prepare students for a range of post-16 opportunities through exposure to vocational and academic routes, including ELC, Level 1 and 2 in Creative Craft, and GCSE Design and Technology. 

  • Celebrate resilience, teamwork, innovation, and pride in craftsmanship through hands-on learning that reflects our school’s therapeutic ethos and CREATE values. 

Implementation 

Our DT curriculum is carefully sequenced across Key Stages 3 and 4 to support skills progression and prepare students for further study or employment. All projects follow the design-make-evaluate process, with embedded opportunities to practise safety, refine practical techniques, and respond to feedback. 

Key Stage 3 (Years 7–9): Foundation & Exploration 

Students complete structured design projects across three main material areas: Timbers, Textiles, and Plastics, with increasing complexity each year. 

  • Year 7 focuses on building confidence through accessible yet purposeful projects such as a timber block head, pewter keyring, embroidered pouch, and acrylic mobile phone stand. Students learn about materials, basic hand tools, safety, CAD/CAM, and evaluation. 

  • Year 8 extends technical knowledge and independence through the timber maze game, an embroidered tote bag with custom acrylic buttons, and projects using CAD to design and manufacture acrylic picture frames and bookends. Students learn isometric drawing, mechanisms, and sustainability. 

  • Year 9 moves towards integration and complexity with a pencil box (finger joints and decoupage), applique pencil case with CAD CAM buttons, and an acrylic lamp incorporating electronics and a wooden base. Projects include 2D/3D design, circuit construction, and digital design using software like SketchUp. 

Each project is assessed against design criteria and skills benchmarks, with summative and formative feedback used to track and celebrate progress. 

Key Stage 4 (Years 10–11): Qualification Pathways 

Students who choose DT at KS4 follow one of the following accredited pathways based on interest, ability, and post-16 aspirations: 

  1. ELC or Level 1/2 Award in Creative Craft 

  • Students complete hands-on projects such as bird houses (carpentry), brick walls (construction), tote bags (fashion design), and personalised storage units (plastics and timber). 

  • In Year 11, students undertake extended projects including the Board Game Community Project—combining design, teamwork, woodwork, soft materials, and packaging. 

  • Assessment is based on practical outcomes, sketchbooks/portfolios, and evaluation of final products. 

  1. GCSE Design and Technology (Edexcel) 

  • Students study core content and a material specialism (metals), develop technical understanding, and complete a non-exam assessment (NEA) linked to a real-world contextual challenge. 

  • The course includes theory and practice in electronics, mechanisms, sustainability, industrial production, and design history. 

  • Students complete a final working prototype and portfolio in Year 11 and sit a formal written exam. 

All KS4 students continue to develop practical skills, CAD/CAM competency, understanding of production methods, and the ability to communicate design ideas through annotated sketches, models, and digital tools. 

Impact 

Through the DT curriculum, students at Salmons Brook: 

  • Become confident, skilled, and reflective makers who can design, plan, and produce creative and functional products. 

  • Achieve formal qualifications (GCSE or Creative Craft L1/2/ELC), opening pathways to further education, training, or employment in construction, design, engineering, or craft-based industries. 

  • Learn how to work safely, sustainably, and ethically in practical environments and real-life design contexts. 

  • Demonstrate increased independence, self-esteem, and aspiration through completing projects they are proud of. 

  • Develop key transferable skills including time management, collaboration, critical thinking, and the ability to give and receive feedback. 

Progress is measured through project outcomes, evaluation skills, technical knowledge, and qualification achievement. More importantly, impact is seen in students’ sense of pride, creativity, and readiness for the next stage of their personal and vocational journey. 

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