Food & Design Technoloy

Design Technology

Intent 

At Academy 360, we believe that Design and Technology (DT) should be taught in a way that inspires inventiveness and imagination. Our children are encouraged to consider real-life problems, such as designing, making and evaluating products considering the creation, purpose and user. We aim to inspire children to be innovative, creative and critical thinkers who have an appreciation for the product design cycle through drafting design thoughts and ideas, creating their product and reflecting on its suitability for the specific product need. We provide opportunities for our pupils to research past and present designs and designers, understanding the impact that these products have had on daily life for other people as well as themselves. When designing children are encouraged to communicate their ideas through drawings, diagrams, mock-ups and prototypes. They continuously learn technical knowledge relating to structures, mechanisms, textiles and food technology. Throughout the key stages, our children develop skills using various tools bearing in mind accuracy and safety. All our children are encouraged to evaluate and test their creations, ensuring that it meets the original design brief. As a school, we aim to develop an awareness of the impact of Design and Technology on everyone’s lives and encourage our children to become resourceful, creative members of society who will have skills to contribute to future design improvements. 

Implementation  

Design and Technology is a crucial part of learning, and it is for this reason that as school we are dedicated to the teaching and delivery of a high-quality DT curriculum. At Academy 360, planning is guided by the DT Association ‘Projects on a Page’ schemes of work, however this is adapted to the needs and requirements of the children at our school ensuring the National Curriculum is followed. Design and Technology is taught every term in each year group.  Key skills and knowledge for DT have been mapped across the school to ensure clear progression throughout the primary phase. Key concepts and technical vocabulary are also included within the lesson sequences to guide planning which follows an overall research, design, make and evaluate structure. This encourages the use of technical vocabulary during discussion opportunities linked directly into our whole school focus which ultimately develops our children’s oracy skills.  

As well as this, we promote Design and Technology in the wider school by offering the children a wide range of opportunities to become involved with after school cookery and gardening clubs. 

How we support SEN pupils in Design Technology 

At Academy 360, pupils with Special Educational Needs (SEN) are fully supported in Design Technology through inclusive teaching and carefully adapted activities. Lessons are broken down into clear, manageable steps and supported with visual prompts, practical demonstrations, and differentiated resources to ensure all children can access learning. Teachers and teaching assistants provide targeted support, including one-to-one or small group guidance where needed, and tools and materials are adapted to suit individual needs. Collaborative working is encouraged so pupils can learn alongside their peers, building confidence, independence, and key practical skills while working towards their personal targets and curriculum outcomes. 

Technology further enhances accessibility through assistive features on iPads, allowing SEND pupils to engage with content independently and confidently. 

How we support vulnerable pupils in Design Technology 

At Academy 360, we are committed to supporting vulnerable and disadvantaged children so that they feel safe, valued, and able to achieve their full potential. We provide a nurturing environment with strong pastoral care, targeted academic support, and access to trusted adults who offer guidance and encouragement. Children are supported through well-planned interventions, inclusive classroom practice, and enrichment opportunities to ensure barriers to learning are reduced. We work closely with families and external agencies where appropriate, ensuring every child receives the care, stability, and support they need to thrive both academically and emotionally. 

How Design Technology relates to skills builder  

The DT curriculum at Academy 360 actively develops the Skills Builder essential skills through enquiry based and collaborative learning: 

• Listening: In Design Technology lessons, pupils listen to design briefs, instructions, and peer feedback, developing active listening skills.  

• Speaking: Pupils explain ideas, justify design choices, and present finished products, strengthening confidence and clarity in speaking. 

• Problem-solving: DT challenges pupils to identify needs and design solutions, directly linking to the Skills Builder problem-solving skill.  

• Planning and Organisation: DT projects require pupils to plan steps, select materials, and manage time effectively. 

• Teamwork: Collaborative designing and making activities build cooperation, turn-taking, and shared decision-making.  

• Leadership: Pupils may take responsibility for roles within group projects, supporting early leadership skills. 

• Creativity: Generating, modelling, and improving ideas supports creative thinking and innovation.  

• Resilience: Testing, adapting, and improving designs encourages perseverance and learning from mistakes. 

• Critical Thinking: Evaluating products and processes develops reasoning and thoughtful judgement. 

These transferable skills are embedded within lessons, supporting pupils’ wider development and readiness for future learning. 

Impact 

By implementing these techniques within the school, the children will have clear enjoyment and confidence in Design and Technology that they will then apply to other areas of the curriculum. Through carefully planned and implemented learning activities the children will develop the skills to be creative, technical and practical which they will be able to apply when performing everyday tasks confidently which will allow them to participate in an increasingly technological world. Pupil’s skills and knowledge are assessed ongoingly by the class teacher, throughout lessons and a summative assessment is completed at the end of a topic every term. This informs the Design and Technology coordinator of any further areas for curriculum development, pupil support and/or training requirements for staff. EYFS pupils' progress and attainment tells us whether each individual child is below expected, at expected or above expected attainment for their age. 

Please see the link below for the Primary curriculum overview for Design Technology and Catering.

overview_document.pdf

progression_document_dt.pdf

dt_action_plan.pdf

Curriculum Intent – Food Technology (H&C)

At Academy 360 in Food Technology, we aim to provide students with the knowledge and skills they require to live long, healthy lives and engage positively with a vast range of ingredients from around the world. Students are encouraged to experiment with an array of ingredients and cooking techniques to prepare them for a life of healthy eating. Our aim to ensure all students to able to:  

• Understand and be able to apply the basic principles of health and nutrition  

• Cook a variety of healthy and nutritious dishes 

• Become competent in range of cooking techniques providing them the ability utilise different ingredients, equipment, heat transfer skills and   

• Understand the source, seasonality, and characteristics of a broad range of ingredients.  

We have organised our curriculum as a continuous learning journey that builds on the learning of KS2. We use threshold concepts to unpin all learning and ensure key topics are taught, linked and revisited consistently across all year groups. In Food these are, Health and Safety, Health and Nutrition, Cooking Skills, Environmental Factors and Food Safety. Lessons are taught in a ‘teach, practise, apply’ format to embed knowledge and empower students to learn independently and confidently.   Preparing pupils for life after A360 by teaching students to enjoy and experiment with a range of cooking skills, appliances and ingredients. We encourage students to be excited about new foods and flavours and to design their own recipes along the way. Lessons are arranged into bi-weekly theory and practical lessons which allows students to regularly practice and improve their skills.  

In Year 7 we teach students a range of basic practical skills, these are the building blocks for success throughout Secondary. In practical lessons we teach students to become confident using the following skills: : 

• Weighing and measuring  

• Knife skills 

• Using the oven   

• Using the hob  

In our theory lessons students build on KS2 knowledge of Healthy Foods and study the Eatwell Guide and how it can be applied to our everyday lives.  

In Year 8 we build on the Eatwell guide and teach students to understand the nutrients within our food and why our body needs them to function and grow. We start to introduce menu design and how to plan a meal for specific needs. In our practical lesson students build on the 4 key skills from Year 7 and are introduced to following skills:  

• Raising agents - still utilising weighting and measuring and new   

• Aeration  

• Heat transfer  

In Year 9 student already have knowledge of health and nutrition and apply this to planning meals within the following projects; 

• Sustainability and seasonality  

• Street Food - countries and culture  

• The Great British Picnic   

Within each of these projects students will focus on where food comes from and how it is produced. They will learn about different food cultures and how food plays a part in learning about different traditions.  

At the end of Year 9 students opt to continue learning about food and health and study Hospitality and Catering at Level 1/2 .  

In Year 10 students continue to build on their knowledge of nutrition and focus on the nutritional needs of target groups. They begin to understand the inner workings of the Hospitality and Catering industry, looking at food safety and bacteria, job roles, skills and qualities required to be successful and factors that affect success. Practical skills focus on basic industry standards, for example, being able to complete mise en place, roux sauces, pastry, bread and pasta making, as well as a range of sauces.  

In Year 11 students use their knowledge of health and nutrition to plan a suitable menu for a given scenario. They plan, prepare and cook two of the dishes whilst justifying their choice. They also build on their understanding of the industry by learning about laws and legislations. Practical skills focus on complex techniques such as, emulsifying, caramelising, poaching, piping and shaping/moulding.  

Contributing to our A360 Curriculum Intent in Food Technology (H&C), we contribute to our whole school intent by: 

How does our curriculum cater for disadvantaged students and those from minority groups?

Students who are disadvantaged, including those with multiple barriers, are actively considered in curriculum planning and sequencing to ensure equitable access, targeted support, and the best possible outcomes for all. 

Core food related knowledge and practical skills are introduced in clear, manageable steps, with explicit teacher modelling and regular opportunities to revisit key techniques and concepts so every learner can progress confidently. Practical cooking sessions are designed so all students can access equipment, ingredients, and high quality resources, with tasks adapted to ensure everyone can participate successfully while still being appropriately challenged. Targeted support—such as scaffolded recipes, pre teaching of technical vocabulary, visual demonstrations, and flexible grouping—helps students build secure foundations in safe food handling, preparation skills, and understanding of nutrition and food science. 

Literacy Skills

Students develop strong literacy skills within Child development through deliberate opportunities to read, write, speak, and listen using subject-specific vocabulary and language, enabling them to communicate and think critically with confidence. 

Literacy skills are embedded throughout the Food Technology curriculum, with key vocabulary, reading demands, and written tasks introduced in clear, manageable steps. Technical terms are explicitly taught and revisited regularly so students can confidently use the language of food, nutrition, and kitchen processes. Recipes, ingredient lists, and food science explanations are modelled carefully to support accurate reading and comprehension. Structured writing tasks—such as method sequencing, sensory evaluations, and design briefs—are scaffolded to ensure all learners can communicate their ideas effectively. Targeted support, including vocabulary pre teaching, sentence starters, visual prompts, and flexible grouping, enables every student to build strong subject specific literacy that underpins successful practical and theoretical work. 

Qualifications

Students leave our academy with excellent qualifications that give them a wide range of choices and opportunities as they move into the next stage of education and adult life.

By studying Hospitality and Catering students gain opportunities in a vast array of different post 16 courses and apprenticeships within an industry that makes up a large section of the UK economy. They also learn vital life skills and are able to cook healthy, nutritious meals for themselves and their future families.

Strong Character

Students develop strong character traits that will support them to adapt and thrive in a rapidly changing world.

Students gain a range of transferable skills whilst studying Food Technology and Hospitality and Catering. They develop resilience and problem-solving skills, teamwork, time keeping and communication skills. They develop presentation techniques and refining skills. All of these are highly sort after by employers.

Physical and Mental Health

Our students develop their physical and mental health, alongside their intellectual growth.

Food Technology contributes to the academy’s commitment to supporting students' physical and mental health by giving them the knowledge and understanding they need to lead healthy lives and provide themselves and their families healthy, nutritious meals.  

Cultural Experiences and Opportunities

Students have access to high-quality cultural experiences and extra-curricular opportunities.

Across all phases students have access to a range of cultural experiences and extracurricular opportunities, like, international visits, days out and experiences in school to develop cultural awareness through food.   

Careers Information

Students engage with high-quality careers information and guidance across all key stages.

Throughout the Food Technology and Hospitality curriculum students learning is linked directly to future careers opportunities. We ensure that students understand how their learning can lead to successful careers in the future.  

British Values

Students have a highly developed understanding of the fundamental British Values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance.

Students' understanding of the fundamental British Values is supported through Food and Hospitality lessons by ensuring students are able to explore and engage in other cultures through their love of food and celebrations. Discussions around race, religion and personal choices and differences are incorporated into lessons to give students the knowledge they need to be respectful and understanding towards others.  

Protected Characteristics

Students have a strong understanding and appreciation of all protected characteristics, including race, gender, religion, disability and sexual orientation.

In Food Technology we work to ensure that our students know and understand that: 

• Everyone is welcome  

• Everyone is different 

• We celebrate our differences  

• We are all equal in our differences 

Click the link below to see our Secondary Food Technology (H&C) Curriculum

Curriculum Overview KS3 Food TechnologyCurriculum Overview KS4 Level 1-2 Hospitality and CateringFood 5 Year Curriculum Map