The D&T Curriculum is structured around the key concepts from the D&T National Curriculum: Design, Make, Evaluate, Technical Knowledge, cooking, and Nutrition.

The Design Technology curriculum at Co-op Florence MacWilliams is designed to develop students' skills and techniques through written and practical investigation, using a wide range of materials as a medium. The curriculum uses a progression model to enable students to use these skills and techniques confidently beyond the classroom, both now and in their future lives. These concepts are addressed through substantive and procedural knowledge.

Through our progression model, students build on core subject knowledge and skills each year. The curriculum is planned to allow for the development and strengthening of understanding, building on prior knowledge and skills acquisition from the previous year as students gain confidence and become more independent learners throughout their journey.

Students are encouraged to explore their curriculum through key concepts, such as healthy eating and nutrition, sustainability, and recycling.

Sir James Dyson once remarked, "Design and technology should be the subject where mathematical brainboxes and science whizzkids turn their bright ideas into useful products." This vision aligns closely with the mission of the Design and Technology department at Co-op Academy  Florence MacWilliams. Our goal is to enrich and empower students by immersing them in the realms of design, engineering, technology, and nutrition. Beyond cultivating the next generation of designers, engineers, and entrepreneurs, we strive to nurture lifelong learners who are self-directed and independent.

As highlighted by Shepard (2017), design and technology must encompass transferable knowledge and skills across diverse disciplines, particularly in complex and open-ended areas requiring problem-solving. Therefore, our lessons are designed to offer a mix of new and engaging knowledge-based learning alongside skill development through activities and tasks in our specialist classrooms. These lessons focus on the interconnections between humans, the planet, other species, and technologies, as Keirl (2010) noted.

Co-op Academy Florence MacWilliams students are trained to articulate and justify their decisions throughout the iterative design process. This process also integrates local and regional cultural history, fostering culturally aware designers. According to Newman (2017), students must understand design in a broader context, both locally and internationally, beyond just recognising key designers, engineers, or chefs.Our department emphasises heuristic learning, encouraging students to independently explore both academic and vocational aspects of design and technology.