SOLIDWORKS Cloud – a 3D Experience Mini session involving using Solidworks, with representatives from both to take you through new features and great ways to engage pupils in your classrooms.  Get the updates and the sneaky tricks you need to be super successful in CAD. 

Exploring Sensory Food Education with TastED

Fran Box is the Director of TastEd, a charity transforming food education through the power of sensory learning.  She has taught gardening in schools, giving her first hand classroom experience and a strong connection to the realities of teaching.  In this session, TastEd will introduce a hands-on, sensory approach to food education designed to help children develop a positive relationship with fruit and vegetables. You’ll learn how TastEd is delivered in Early Years and primary settings, see examples of simple classroom activities, and explore how sensory food education can support both health and learning. 

Practical 3D Printing in Primary & Secondary School Design & Technology Michael has more than 25 Years experience in North East Schools. Now External D&T (Primary and Secondary) Adviser for Durham LA and CEO of CAD2CODE CIC. Passionate about all things D&T and Engineering. Participants with gain practical working knowledge on how to design and manufacture a simple product using a 3D Printer. They will take away "sticky" knowledge and their product.

Rendering with markers - get started, get sketching! John has been a D&T teacher for nearly 25 years and Head of Department for 21 years. He runs a D&T company called DTResources and provide CPD on most aspects of the subject, D&T machine training, H&S inspections/machine servicing and LEV testing. I run the Design and Technology teachers' Facebook group and also write for many D&T publications. I am a passionate sketcher and try to put some time aside to sketch design ideas each day. I like to try and sketch quickly to show my thoughts as fast as possible with the idea that 'messy is ok'.This session will focus on how to start using markers, how to start teaching your students and how to continue getting better at using them.

Primary - Design, Engineer & Construct. Daniel is a qualified teacher based in Manchester, who was awarded the Institution of Civil Engineers “ICE 200 medal” for his outstanding contribution to Civil Engineering.  Daniel has 16 years of teaching experience in the UK and has developed, taught, and led ‘Design Engineer Construct’ in an 11-18 school. Learn how your school can benefit from a fully funded 6-week Primary DEC (Design Engineer Construct) programme that introduces students to sustainable building design. The programme includes support from construction industry professionals and challenges learners to learn through a series of fun, practical tasks that embed D&T, Maths, Science, Geography, and more. This session will give an insight into the teacher CPD available along with the comprehensive resources for teachers, that will enable your school to benefit from a programme supported by the construction industry.

Food Teacher Centre - what is coming up this year and supporting schools. Barbara has had an extensive career teaching Food in various Secondary schools, including serving as head of the Food & Textiles department. She has also worked as a consultant on food training programmes such as: "Food in Schools" (Primary CPD)  • Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA), Food Technology Training, National Curriculum 2014. She is an accredited Food Safety Trainer, delivering Level 1 and Level 2 Awards in Food Safety. She is the co-author of the Collins 2016 Revision Guide 'GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition'.  Barbara will discuss key issues in food teaching, how the Food Teachers Centre can assist teachers in delivering relevant curricula despite constraints and address future needs of teachers and how best we can meet their needs. 

Teacher Research Presentations Discover how D&T teachers are investigating and improving their classroom practice through research. This session features short, dynamic presentations where teachers share their classroom-based research projects in accessible 3-4 minute talks. From small-scale investigations to formal qualifications, hear real examples of how research is making a difference in D&T classrooms. Perfect for teachers wanting to see research in action and gain inspiration for their own practice. 

Using that Micro:bit or Crumble in D&T Have you a box of Micro:bit or Crumble, sitting in a box not being used? This session gains basic knowledge in control using Crumble or Micro:bit, for use within Design & Technology, advice and confidence building for using control technology in the classroom. Applicable to both primary and secondary staff. 

Supercharge your D&T journey Nat currently leads the award-winning D&T department in SE London, where they champion future-focused, inclusive and interdisciplinary design education. With over  15 years of teaching and leadership experience in UK and international schools she  has a proven track record of transforming departments and embedding real-world, industry-informed practice into the curriculum.  Running on empty but still dreaming big for your department? This fast-paced, interactive session is all about how to make small, manageable tweaks that lead to powerful, long-term change. We’ll explore practical, low-cost strategies that can work, because we know time and budget are tight. Come ready to share, steal, and supercharge your D&T journey.

Identifying research questions in the workshop Joanne Taylor & Yvonne and Dr Brendan Anglim- Research Summaries Workshop Joanne Taylor is an experienced D&T teacher, leader, and researcher who firmly believes that Design and Technology Education can positively impact young people and prepare them for the fast-changing world in which we live. Yvonne Dixon is Curriculum Lead for Design and Technology and a member of the Senior Leadership Team at a secondary school in rural Cumbria. With over 20 years of experience in teaching and leadership, she is passionate about raising aspirations through high-quality, inclusive design education and leads on curriculum development.

Get hands-on with mechanisms in Primary Schools. Hepp DT is a team of experienced educators and professionals committed to delivering highquality, engaging D&T experiences for primary schools by providing a wide range of services including hands-on workshops. Explore the principles of wheels and axles by constructing a moving vehicle complete with a functional trailer. You’ll learn how to model key techniques, troubleshoot common issues, and inspire creativity in the classroom. Perfect for teachers looking to enhance their understanding of mechanical systems and leave with ready-to-use ideas and examples.

Introduction to the Visual Suite 2.0 

Andrew champions the use of digital technology, to enhance teaching and learning in schools. He leads a global community of over 2000 educators. A former Assistant Headteacher and  recognised as one of the UK's top EdTech influencers. In this session you will familiarise yourself with Canva’s new interface and functionalities. Learn how to navigate the dashboard and understand Canva’s design elements such as templates, images and more.

Exploring the value of practical cookery on our school curriculum. As CEO of Leiths Education, Maria is a passionate advocate for elevating the status of cooking on the school curriculum, Maria brings invaluable practitioner expertise to discussions about food

An Introduction to Electronics and E-textiles Boyd Education delivers professional This session is not just for those teaching textiles, but anyone looking to explore using electronics in their teaching. development training and creates teaching and learning resources to support D&T departments across the country. This session shares simple ways to introduce electronics and e-textiles learning into a D&T classroom. The session includes hands-on activities suitable for KS3 and KS4, some of which may also be appropriate for other key stages. The session is particularly suitable for non-specialists or anyone looking for simple activities that any teacher can deliver in any classroom.

Inventors workshop

Ruth is a female inventor and engineer. She co-runs Kids Invent Stuff, a youtube channel where she, and her friend Shawn, bring to life kids invention ideas- from flaming pianos to furry dog cars. Ruth is passionate about STEM education and providing future generations with the skills needed to excel in life. Join Ruth Amos for an energising session all about sparking innovation in the classroom. Hear how Kids Invent Stuff turns wild ideas from young inventors into real builds and how designing for an audience fuels creativity and problem-solving. Then, get hands-on with chocolate welding! A fun, messy challenge that brings prototyping, teamwork, and engineering to life. Come for the invention inspo, stay for the snacks! Expect: Big ideas, classroom-ready inspiration, and a lot of melted chocolate.

Oak Academy - Primary D&T Sam is a design and technology subject specialist. He is the subject lead at Oak National Academy, where he helped create the world’s first open-licensed, fully resourced key stage one to four curriculum model for design and technology and cooking and nutrition. For both primary and secondary sessions: Over the past year, we have worked with our brilliant partners, the British Nutrition Foundation and the Design and Technology Association, to create a fully resourced key stage one to four curriculum model for design and technology and cooking and nutrition that is adaptable and free to use. We aim to support teachers to teach by saving them time and enabling pupils to access a high-quality curriculum. In this session I will cover design and technology and cooking and nutrition. I will introduce our curricula and showcase the fantastic resources we have created with our partners.

Using AI and online support for those with SEND needs. With over 16 years in state education as a Design & Technology teacher and Head of Faculty, I’ve always championed D&T and real-world learning. For over three years now, I’ve led on Assistive Technology at Moon Hall, a dyslexia specialist school, driving innovation to support SEN learners. Discover how AI chatbots can support ALL learners, with a particular focus on those with special educational needs, especially those with dyslexia. In this hands on engaging 60minute session, we’ll explore how to ‘programme’ large language model (LLM) chatbots to act as personal assistants for both educators and students.

Textiles - beyond schools

 Nic Rodgers takes you through work at DeMontfort University in Design.  Specifically look textiles, looking at briefs that they follow and new materials and technologies that are used - one NOT to be missed. 

Active learning – making your secondary pupils think hard! Frances is responsible for supporting the British Nutrition Foundation’s work with secondary schools and their students.  Join Frances from the British Nutrition Foundation as she showcases ways to actively engage your pupils in their own learning, rather than them simply receiving information; enabling them to apply what they are learning, think critically, and develop a deeper understanding of the material. Research has shown that active learning leads to better retention and understanding, compared to passive learning. By actively engaging with the material, pupils are more likely to remember and understand what they are learning, be able to apply their knowledge in real-world situations, and make more informed decisions.

Active learning ideas for Primary food.  Claire develops educational materials, and delivers training, to support the teaching of healthy eating, cooking and where food comes from in primary schools. Join Claire from the British Nutrition Foundation as she showcases a selection of food themed activities to help learners develop their knowledge, skills and confidence around food. This session will explore active learning ideas that support delivery of the primary D&T cooking and nutrition curriculum.

Step into the future of Design & Technology with the power of AI. This energising, hands-on workshop unlocks cutting-edge tools and innovative strategies to supercharge creativity, streamline processes, and prepare students for a rapidly evolving world. Join us to reimagine what’s possible in the D&T classroom. Trudi has written and spoken about AI in design education internationally for major publications, conferences and podcasts. She also co-authored the recent DfE support materials on AI use in schools and colleges. 

Resources

Big D&T Meet 2025 session video

https://sites.google.com/view/trudi-barrow/big-meet-video?authuser=0 

www.trudibarrow.com

Innovation needn't be costly, it's more about your mindset than the tools in your hands. Inspired by 23 years in product design including 12 years at Dyson, as well as the last 8 years running Inventor Club. Ben Edmonds will walk you through an immersive practical workshop designed to give you as a teacher a framework for incredible idea generation, prototyping and testing that is suitable for all ages, all schools, all budgets, all backgrounds. Guaranteed to get great results, no prior practical experience is necessary and positively encouraged. By the end of the activity, having used the framework to solve an engaging, open-ended problem, , we’ll have semi working prototypes made from household items. It’s not always about having expensive technology, the right mindset can produce incredible results in just a few short minutes

Be part of a live podcast! Be part of podcast history! Join us for a live recording of the Talking D&T podcast, featuring an academic conversation about what research tells us about effective demonstrations in D&T education. Watch how academic discourse unfolds, learn about current research on pedagogy, and gain insights into how research findings can inform your demonstration techniques. A unique opportunity to see behind the scenes of academic discussion and podcast production.

Join us for a hands-on workshop exploring how Design and Technology can support sustainable practices through repurposing school uniforms.

With over 1.4 million uniform items discarded annually in the UK, this session addresses a pressing environmental challenge while offering engaging, curriculum-linked project ideas.

You’ll take part in a practical “no-sew cushion” activity—perfect for KS2 and 3 students—that reimagines textile waste as a creative resource.

We’ll also discuss how to assess garments for reuse or repair, and share strategies for incorporating sustainability, circular design, and repair skills into your schemes of work. Whether you're looking to embed eco-conscious principles into your classroom or add an accessible, low-cost project to your D&T toolkit, this session offers practical inspiration and resources to take away.

D&T Adviser at CLEAPSS, started teaching woodwork, metalwork and technical drawing in 1986! I have produced support materials, books, online resources and have supported teachers and run training across all subjects and age ranges in schools for the past 25 years. My main aim for the subject is to instil an enjoyment of learning, through the development of engaging and innovative approaches. If it’s not engaging and you are not enjoying it, why do it? How to get the most out of your CLEAPSS. I will take you through the wealth of resources that are yours to use, and explain how CLEAPSS can support you in school.

How a fully funded Built Environment programme can equip learners of all ages Passionate about design and the Built Environment, Alli studied Architecture BA (Hons), followed by a Masters in Applied Design in Architecture (RIBA Part 2). Alli later trained as a teacher and now works at Stratford upon Avon School, delivering DEC Awards, ‘Design Engineer Construct’ Level 2 and 3 to around 1000 students (Years 7 – 13).. Rob graduated with a first Three-Dimensional Design BA (Hons) at Leeds College of Art (now Leeds Arts University) in 2009. He then became a teacher working in range of settings from secondary education to teaching training centres. This session presents how a fully funded Built Environment programme can equip learners of all ages with the knowledge and skills to tackle global sustainability challenges. Attendees will hear from established ‘Design Engineer Construct (DEC)’ schools about the benefits of project-based learning (PBL) through a digital programme to create pathways for learners into architecture, engineering, and construction professions.

Inspiring Futures: Embedding Career Awareness Through Primary Design and Technology Janine is a Senior Lecturer in Primary Education at St Mary’s University, specialising in primary Design and Technology. A former primary school teacher and senior leader with 13 years of experience.  Drawing on personal experience and current practice, Janine shares how early exposure to D&T, paired with real-world contexts and creative challenges, can help children connect taught skills to meaningful career pathways. Attendees will leave with practical strategies for embedding career-related learning into primary D&T, broadening pupils' understanding of the designerly world.

Turning Waste into Wow: Live Demo of Small-Scale Plastic Recycling Sustainable Design Studio empowers people to turn plastic waste into meaningful products through small-scale manufacturing. From our workshop in Hampshire, we design and build compact recycling machines—shredders, injectors, and mold systems—that are ideal for schools, makerspaces, and design labs.  Join Sustainable Design Studio for a hands-on session exploring how plastic waste can be transformed into new products right on the spot. We’ll be demoing two compact machines—the Injection Mini and Filament Maker—used in schools, studios, and start-ups around the world. You’ll see how shredded plastic can become filament for 3D printing or be injected into moulds to create new items. Expect practical insights, real-world applications, and ideas to bring circular design and material innovation into your D&T teaching.

Collaborating for Creativity: A Social Approach Towards Developing Design and Technology Education Come and learn about, and take part in, a live research project in a session that explores how we define, develop, and assess creativity in Design and Technology education. Led by a practicing teacher and current doctoral researcher, this session is part of an ongoing Doctor of Education (EdD) project focused on rethinking the role of creativity within the secondary D&T curriculum. Drawing from classroom experience and academic inquiry, this research challenges the constraints of traditional qualifications by trialling an alternative curriculum; one designed specifically to run independently from the GCSE. It places creativity at the heart of the design process, encouraging students to explore, take risks, and develop original thinking. 

Experienced Design and Technology teacher, now PhD student and consultant. Oracy in Design and Technology, how to make the most out of talk in your classroom. An opportunity to learn about different strategies to support students talk with purpose.