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:
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)