At Fern House, our Design and Technology curriculum aims to ignite curiosity and foster creative problem-solving in our pupils. We encourage them to think and act as innovators and risk-takers, designing and creating products that address real and relevant problems. Our goal is to equip pupils with the skills to contribute positively to the world around them, becoming resourceful and active citizens.  

Core Principles

Our approach to Design and Technology is built on the following principles:

Creativity and Imagination: Pupils are encouraged to use their creativity and imagination to design and make products that meet their own needs and the needs of others. We believe that providing pupils with opportunities to be creative, reflective, and engaged will lead to a deeper understanding of the subject.  

Practical and Rigorous Learning: Design and Technology is an inspiring, rigorous, and practical subject. We provide opportunities for hands-on learning, such as our healthy eating topics which include cooking and meal preparation. This is an essential part of our pupils'  

Cultural capital: We believe they will gain more from these practical, life-skills-based topics.  

Cross-Curricular Connections: We have carefully selected our topics to ensure strong links to other subjects like science, geography, and PSHE. This integrated approach helps pupils understand how Design and Technology connects to the wider world and encourages a holistic perspective.  

Developing Key Skills: We focus on developing both technical and soft skills. Pupils are given clear vocabulary for each topic and opportunities to reflect upon and evaluate past and present design and technology. This process of reflection, evaluation, and iteration is crucial for becoming a successful designer and maker.