Creative and technical · KS3 & KS4
Design and Technology
This curriculum develops pupils' knowledge of and skills in design, applied through designing and making prototypes. Pupils build design and technology capability by solving real-world problems in context-led units.
2026/27 at a glance
Each year is split into Autumn, Spring and Summer. Scroll sideways on small screens, or use the year-by-year detail below.
| Year | Autumn | Spring | Summer |
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| Year 7KS3 |
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| Year 8KS3 |
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| Year 9KS3 |
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| Year 10KS4 |
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| Year 11KS4 |
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Year by year
Year 7 Key Stage 3
Autumn
- Principles of materials and manufacturing Handling, shaping and joining sheet materials with different processes.
Spring
- Prototypes with mechanisms: robotics and automation Modelling with paper and board, and material sources and stock forms.
Summer
- Communication Communicating design ideas, including 3D sketching with crating.
Year 8 Key Stage 3
Autumn
- Collaborative design: tactile toys to teach Working together to design a batch of tactile timber toys.
Spring
- Ergonomic design: accessible controllers Using ergonomic and body-measurement data to design a game controller.
Summer
- Material testing The physical and working properties of materials.
Year 9 Key Stage 3
Autumn
- Functional prototypes: wearable technology Systems and control through wearable technology.
Spring
- Developments in new materials: supporting new parents Smart and modern materials in a product for new parents.
Summer
- The circular economy Technology in society and its effects on design.
Year 10 Key Stage 4
Autumn
- Product analysis: encouraging healthy lifestyles Analysing products to identify their features.
- Systems approach to design: sustainable futures Electronic components and a systems approach to design.
- Iterative design: nature Biomimicry and innovation.
Spring
- Investigate and research: high profile event Identifying a client and investigating their needs and wants.
- Iterative design: student living Taking apart flat-pack furniture to investigate it.
Summer
- Inclusive design: mental health and wellbeing Inclusive design focused on mental health and wellbeing.
- The circular economy: developing countries Technology in the world around us.
Year 11 Key Stage 4
Autumn
- Core principles Core principles knowledge, with a focus on exam technique.
- Technical principles Technical principles knowledge, with a focus on exam technique.
Spring
- Designing and making principles Designing and making principles, with a focus on exam technique.
Summer
- Iterative design principles Building on designing and making principles for the Non-Examined Assessment.