At Brierley Hill Primary School, we believe that Design and Technology (D&T) is an essential subject that fosters creativity, problem-solving, and practical skills from the early years onwards. Our CUSP (Curriculum with Unity Schools Partnership) Design and Technology Curriculum is structured to ensure that pupils:
🛠 Develop technical knowledge and practical skills – Learning how to design, make, evaluate, and apply knowledge across a range of disciplines.
🎨 Engage in creative problem-solving – Applying engineering, design, and material knowledge to real-world challenges.
🥗 Understand the importance of nutrition and food technology – Developing food preparation skills and healthy eating knowledge from EYFS onwards.
⚙ Explore mechanical and electrical systems – Understanding how things work and how to improve them.
🌱 Develop environmental awareness and sustainability skills – Encouraging the use of recycled materials and eco-friendly design solutions.
Our ambition is that every child leaves EYFS and Key Stage 2 with a strong foundation in practical design skills, problem-solving ability, and the confidence to innovate
In EYFS, D&T is embedded within "Creating with Materials" and "Understanding the World," where children develop:
🛠 Early making and constructing skills – Cutting, shaping, and assembling materials using simple tools.
🎨 Exploration of materials – Understanding properties of paper, fabric, wood, and plastics.
🥗 Early food preparation knowledge – Exploring healthy eating, textures, and basic food handling.
🔄 Design thinking – Planning and modifying models through play and discussion.
Through continuous provision and structured play, children:
This early exposure to designing, making, and evaluating prepares children for the more structured curriculum in Key Stage 1 and beyond
The CUSP Design and Technology Curriculum is structured into blocks, covering:
✅ Mechanisms – Exploring levers, pulleys, gears, and axles.
✅ Structures – Investigating stability, strength, and materials.
✅ Food and Nutrition – Developing food preparation skills and healthy eating knowledge.
✅ Textiles – Understanding materials, weaving, and stitching techniques.
✅ Electrical Systems – Exploring circuits, switches, and motors.
✅ Understanding Materials – Learning about material properties, suitability, and sustainable alternatives
Each CUSP Design and Technology lesson follows a structured format, ensuring pupils develop a deep understanding of design, materials, and function:
🔹 Pupils revisit and retrieve previously taught skills and techniques.
🔹 Discussions encourage links to prior learning and real-world applications.
📖 Explicit teaching of technical vocabulary, ensuring pupils can articulate design concepts.
🛠 Understanding core principles such as stability, functionality, and precision.
✍ Pupils sketch, annotate, and plan designs using age-appropriate techniques.
🎨 Use of templates, prototypes, and 3D modelling.
🛠 Pupils construct, assemble, and test their designs using a variety of materials.
⚡ Incorporation of mechanisms, electrical systems, and textiles where appropriate.
📝 Pupils critically assess their work, discussing strengths, areas for improvement, and potential refinements.
🔄 Peer and self-evaluation activities encourage reflection and refinement.
This structured approach ensures pupils engage with D&T as both an academic and practical subject, developing real-world skills
At Brierley Hill Primary School, we ensure our curriculum connects to the local industrial heritage, allowing pupils to:
🏭 Explore the area’s history in glassmaking, metalwork, and engineering.
🔎 Investigate how traditional skills influence modern design and manufacturing.
🌍 Engage with local industries and professionals to understand real-world applications of D&T.
These local links make learning meaningful and relevant, helping pupils understand the impact of design and technology in their community
📊 Sketchbooks and Design Portfolios – Tracking progression in planning, execution, and evaluation.
🛠 Practical Demonstrations – Assessing application of skills in cutting, joining, finishing, and assembling.
📖 Oracy and Vocabulary Use – Encouraging pupils to articulate design choices and technical knowledge.
🔍 Product Evaluation – Pupils assess their own and peers' work against success criteria and real-world functionality.
Assessment in CUSP D&T is formative, skill-based, and designed to track practical application and technical understanding
By the time pupils leave Brierley Hill Primary, they are:
🛠 Creative, confident designers – Able to generate, develop, and communicate ideas effectively.
🌍 Technically proficient – Equipped with practical skills in construction, mechanisms, and food technology.
🔎 Critical thinkers and evaluators – Able to assess and refine their work and the work of others.
📖 Well-prepared for KS3 and beyond – With a strong foundation in problem-solving and technical skills.
CUSP Design and Technology ensures that every child leaves primary school with real-world skills and a love for innovation, with strong foundations built from EYFS
For more details, including:
📌 CUSP D&T Curriculum Overviews
📌 Sketchbook Exemplification Materials
📌 Local Industry Links and Enrichment Opportunities
Please contact our Curriculum Lead, Tom Amphlett, at info@brierleyhill.dudley.sch.uk.