A main priority for the design and technology curriculum at Grange is to ignite the children’s curiosity and aspirations for a future career in design and technology. Embedded into the curriculum are opportunities to have hands-on experience of the potential career choices in the technology field. Children will look at how this is ever-changing and adapting as advances in technology continue and will understand the importance of innovation in shaping peoples' futures.

We endeavour to strengthen our links within the community by engaging with local businesses though workshops, experience days and regional and national competitions.

At Grange, we aim for all children to develop the creative, technical and practical expertise needed for them to perform everyday tasks in an increasingly technological world. Each year, children will build upon their previously learnt skills to gather a repertoire of knowledge and understanding and skills. Such progression will enable children to build high-quality and pioneering prototypes for a range of purposes. Children will progress in their ability to critique, evaluate and test their products and the work of others.

We have the fantastic facility of having access to a STEM Lab and the ‘Imagination Station’ within the school grounds, in which children will be encouraged to use regularly to enhance and support their learning in design and technology.

During their time at Grange, children will also have the opportunity to engage in extra-curricular activities to continue their learning outside of the classroom. University Workshops and lunchtime clubs are designed to enable children to specialise in an area of design and technology that they want to explore further. For example: children will learn about food and nutrition through a variety of cooking workshops held at different times throughout the year. We also use University Workshops to address current world issues such as: the rise in plastic pollution where pupils use litter picking as a means to protect the environment and raise awareness within their community.

Where appropriate, children will have the opportunity to learn about design and technology processes through first-hand experiences; meeting professionals within the field and also enjoying trips and visits to key design and technology businesses within our local area.

At select times throughout the year, children also have the opportunity to engage in national and regional design and technology-based competitions where they are encouraged to design innovative products which solve real-life problems. Parental engagement is encouraged throughout each year group during specific projects and school-wide competitions are run throughout the year which can involve families and children working on specific projects at home. 

Grange’s STEAM Christmas Tree Competition

At Grange we are thrilled to be able to join our local schools in celebrating STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics). One of these ways is through our multiple competitions run throughout the year. Our most recent competition focused on the children having the opportunity to design and make their own free-standing Christmas tree. The children were able to show off their unique and creative ideas by creating their own Christmas tree, inspired by their own thoughts and designers of Christmas trees around the world.  

Here is a selection of photos of some of our Christmas tree entries: