Design & Technology at Mousehole School
Intent
At Mousehole School, our Design & Technology curriculum is designed to spark curiosity and creativity through hands‑on, practical learning. We want every child to feel confident exploring ideas, solving problems and developing the technical skills needed to bring their designs to life. Our curriculum progresses carefully from EYFS to Year 6, ensuring pupils build on prior knowledge and grow in independence each year. Food and nutrition are taught annually so that all pupils develop essential life skills and a strong understanding of healthy choices.
Implementation
D&T is taught in clear, sequenced units that give pupils time to explore, design, make and evaluate. Each unit builds specific skills and includes regular opportunities to revisit and retrieve prior learning. In EYFS and KS1, children learn through simple mechanisms, materials and structures; as they move into KS2, they deepen this understanding and apply it to more complex contexts including electronics, architecture and digital technologies. Food and nutrition remain a consistent strand across all year groups. Assessment is ongoing, using a combination of unit launches, in‑lesson checkpoints, end‑point quizzes and evaluation of finished products to ensure every child makes strong progress.
Impact
By the end of primary school, we aim for pupils at Mousehole School to be able to confidently design purposeful products, make them with increasing precision and evaluate their work thoughtfully. They understand how to apply technical knowledge and use tools safely and effectively. Our curriculum shows clear progress across year groups, with children able to talk about their learning and the decisions they make during the design process. Most importantly, pupils leave us with practical skills, resilient problem‑solving habits and a genuine enjoyment of creating—qualities that support them across the curriculum and beyond.