Design AND Technology AT DOWNSHALL
This subject is driven by the idea that children design and make something - a product - for a specific person, or persons, for a specific purpose. During the iterative design process, pupils will focus on one key skill: bread-making or building a working hydraulic system, for example.
Subject leader: Mr M. Monaghan
FOOD FOR LIFE
MOVING MECHANISMS
A pneumatic system is a combination of compressed air and different materials.” Rezwana, Year 5
UNITS PER TERM:
| Year group | Autumn term | Spring term | Summer term |
| Year 1 | Shade & Shelter | Taxi! | Chop, Slice & Mash |
| Year 2 | Remarkable Recipes | Beach Hut | Push & Pull |
| Year 3 | Cook Well, Eat well | Making it move | Greenhouse |
| Year 4 | Fresh food, Good Food | Functional & Fancy Fabrics | Tomb Builders |
| Year 5 | Moving Mechanisms | Eat the Seasons | Architecture |
| Year 6 | Food for Life | Engineer | Make Do & Mend |
CURRICULUM LINKS:
YEAR 3 Make It Move!
VISITORS TO ENRICH LEARNING
New Resources
This year the school has purchased mobile electric hobs. Now classrooms can be instantly converted into working kitchens, transforming food and nutrition lessons into a genuinely hands-on experience. In Year 5, children created soup from scratch, using seasonal ingredients.
Enrichments
Recently, Downshall children have benefitted from assemblies and learning activities augmented by ISS, our catering contractor. Year 6 children learnt about engineering and were introduced to the potential of engineering as a career path during a series of workshops run by award-winning engineer, Mandy Youssef.
MANDY YOUSSEF WITH YEAR 6 PUPILS
COMPETITION WINNERS WITH MR BENNETT AT THE QUEEN'S GALLERY, BUCKINGHAM PALACE
In May, Downshall pupils in years 3-6 were invited to submit entries for a design and technology competition launched by London Grid for Learning to mark the coronation of King Charles. Pupils were challenged to design a royal vehicle for the future. In our school, children were encouraged to consider renewable power sources for the vehicle rather than non-renewable fossil fuels.
When the twelve London-wide winners were announced in the summer term, four of them were Downshall children: Aida Dobos, Azrin Reza, Maryam Patel and Zayd Queshi. These winners exhibited their vehicle designs within the grounds of Buckingham Palace in the summer holiday.
“I heard about being a competition winner when I came home from tuition. I didn’t believe it and was shocked when I found out I would really be going to Buckingham Palace. I am so happy to be a winner!” (Zayd, Year 4)
A WINNING DESIGN by AZRIN (Year 6)
Competition Time
In 2025, Children were invited to take part in an in-school savoury meal competition. Participants were asked to cook a nutritious meal for their family. The response was impressive and the standard high. The overall winner was Miguel from Year 2. Pictured below is his winning entry (Chicken & Spinach Tagliatelle) and a photograph of the winner receiving his winner’s apron.
useful websites
https://designmuseum.org/ (The Design Museum, Kensington)
https://www.vam.ac.uk/young (Young Victoria & Albert Museum – formerly Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood)
https://www.museumofthehome.org.uk/ (The Museum of the Home, Hackney, formerly the Geffrye Museum)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/topics/c99ezxv84rpt (BBC Bitesize Design & technology webpage for Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2)