Enginuity celebrates D&T excellence at the 2024 Design and Technology Awards

On 11 October, Enginuity was proud to sponsor the Enginuity Excellence Award for Outstanding Primary Subject Leadership at the Design and Technology Awards 2024, an event dedicated to celebrating the vital role of Design & Technology (D&T) in preparing students for future careers in engineering and manufacturing. The event emphasised bridging the “Dream Gap,” encouraging young people to imagine their futures within STEM fields.

Amanda Crawford: encouraging D&T education through innovative curriculum design and cross-curricular integration

During the event, Amanda Crawford of Shiremoor Primary School was announced as the winner of Category 2: The Enginuity Excellence Award for Outstanding Primary Subject Leadership, recognising her exceptional work in transforming her school’s D&T programme. Over the past three years, Amanda has made D&T a vital part of Shiremoor’s curriculum, connecting it with other subjects like maths and science and making it accessible and exciting for her students.

Amanda’s approach is rooted in hands-on learning and cross-curricular projects. Her after-school Cookery Club and take-home D&T kits, which include activities like sewing and cooking, provide students with family-friendly, practical experiences beyond the classroom. Her innovative projects, such as the Goblin car engineering programme and a mini-enterprise initiative involving a 3D printer and circuit machine, have allowed students to explore engineering concepts creatively. With support from the Design & Technology Association and collaborations with local secondary schools, Amanda’s programme provides a clear pathway from primary to secondary education, building confidence and skills that will serve her students in the years to come.

Transformative impact on students and school community

Amanda’s efforts have created a measurable impact, with students expressing both enthusiasm and a deeper understanding of D&T concepts. Her leadership has also earned recognition from the school’s governors, who commend her for establishing a robust foundation in STEM learning. Through her work, Amanda continues to inspire curiosity and skill development in her students, paving the way for future exploration in STEM fields.

Discover Enginuity’s free online resources for young people

Enginuity is dedicated to sparking a love for engineering in young people, and our free online resources are designed to introduce students aged 8-14 to the exciting possibilities within the sector. Our interactive platforms help students visualise a future in engineering and inspire the to consider diverse careers in this field.

• Skills Miner: Using the popular Minecraft Education platform, Skills Miner immerses students in engineering scenarios. Through gameplay, students solve real-world engineering challenges, helping them envision themselves as future engineers.
• Enspire City: Enspire City transports students into a futuristic city where they tackle sustainability challenges. The “Pathways” zone within Enspire City showcases various career entry points, offering students a comprehensive view of opportunities in the STEM field.

Both Skills Miner and Enspire City align with the UK curriculum, UN Sustainability Goals, and Gatsby Benchmarks. Skills Miner also supports Skills Builder Framework certification, helping students build critical competencies for future STEM careers. The feedback for these platforms has been overwhelmingly positive with 88% of students reporting an increase of interest in engineering after using Skills Miner whilst Enspire City engages every student in learning something new about engineering.