Design & Technology
Our Vision
At HAWI, our vision is to develop innovative, creative and resilient designers who are confident in using the iterative process to explore ideas, take risks and refine solutions. We aim for all students to leave with the knowledge, skills and mindset needed to design thoughtfully, make skilfully and contribute positively to the future world.
What is Design & Technology?
Design and Technology is a dynamic and creative subject that empowers students to solve real-world problems through design, innovation and making. It combines creativity, technical knowledge and practical skills to enable students to design and manufacture products that meet people’s needs and improve the world around them.
At HAWI, we believe Design and Technology is about far more than making products—it is about developing imaginative thinkers, resilient problem solvers and confident creators. Through an iterative design process, students learn to explore ideas, test solutions, refine outcomes and embrace failure as an essential part of innovation.
Why do we teach Design & Technology at HAWI?
We believe every student should have the opportunity to think creatively and make purposeful decisions about the designed world they live in. Design and Technology will prepare students with the skills, knowledge and confidence to respond to real-life challenges, preparing them for an ever-evolving technological future.
Our curriculum develops:
- Creativity and innovation – encouraging students to generate and develop original ideas
- Problem-solving and resilience – embracing iteration, testing and refinement
- Practical capability – working with a broad range of materials, tools and manufacturing processes
- Technical understanding – gaining knowledge of materials, systems and sustainability
- Confidence and independence – taking ownership of ideas from concept to realisation
We also expose students to careers within design, engineering, architecture, food and hospitality, helping them understand the relevance of their learning beyond the classroom.
How do we teach Design & Technology at HAWI?
Our curriculum is built around an iterative design process where students revisit and refine their ideas throughout each project. Rather than focusing on a single outcome, we emphasise the journey of learning—designing, making, testing and improving.
Key Stage 3 Structure
At KS3, students experience both key disciplines within Design and Technology through a carousel model:
- 6 months of Food Technology
- 6 months of Product Design
This ensures all students develop a broad foundation of knowledge, skills and experiences across both areas.
Curriculum Approach
Students learn through:
- Project-based learning, driven by meaningful design contexts and real-world problems
- A structured design cycle: research, ideation, development, prototyping, testing, evaluation, refinement
- Regular opportunities to iterate and improve their work based on feedback and testing
- Exposure to a broad range of manufacturing processes, including hand tools, machinery and modern technologies
- Development of disciplinary knowledge, including materials, mechanisms, electronics and nutrition
Creativity sits at the heart of all projects, with students encouraged to take risks, experiment with materials and develop their own design identity.
At KS4, students build on their KS3 experiences by developing deeper knowledge, independence and technical skill.
Students can progress onto:
- GCSE Design and Technology
- GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition
These pathways allow students to:
- Apply their understanding to more complex, open-ended design challenges
- Develop specialist technical and practical skills
- Work through an extended iterative design project (NEA)
- Strengthen analysis, evaluation and critical thinking skills
Industry Links and Visiting Professionals
Students benefit from opportunities to work with and learn from:
- Designers, engineers and architects
- Professional chefs and food specialists
Through workshops, talks and demonstrations, students gain insight into industry practices, career pathways and the creative process in professional contexts.
Educational Visits
Trips play a vital role in inspiring creativity and contextualising learning:
- Year 7: Visit to the Victoria and Albert Museum
- Year 8: Visit to the Design Museum
- GCSE Design and Technology: Visits to Central London to explore architecture and design, alongside further visits to the Design Museum to support idea development
Extracurricular Opportunities
We offer a range of engaging opportunities beyond the classroom, including:
- Participation in F1 in Schools, developing engineering, teamwork and problem-solving skills
- Baking Club, providing students with the opportunity to develop practical cooking skills, creativity and confidence in food preparation in an enjoyable, collaborative environment
How do we make D&T memorable at HAWI?
We believe Design and Technology should be an engaging, inspiring and hands-on experience that students remember long after they leave school.
Students experience:
- The satisfaction of designing and making high-quality products using a range of tools and techniques
- Opportunities to work with diverse materials and manufacturing methods, building confidence and independence
- Projects that connect to real-world issues, such as sustainability, user needs and emerging technologies
- A culture that celebrates experimentation, iteration and innovation
- Opportunities to showcase work through displays, competitions and collaborative projects
Through these experiences, students develop pride in their work, confidence in their abilities and an appreciation of the role design and technology plays in shaping the world around them.