The Learning Grid

Primary Engineer is a curriculum-focused enterprise that works with teachers to deliver the practical application of science, maths and ICT through design and technology. By giving pupils a design brief and asking them to develop problem-solving skills in a team environment, pupils gain an early experience of the range of skills and cross-curricular knowledge that engineering requires.

Primary Engineer works on two levels: firstly with the teachers, both secondary and primary, then with children. Secondary subject specialist teachers attend a two-day practical course designed to address the needs of the primary design technology curriculum. Here, secondary teachers are able to gather a greater understanding of the primary curriculum, the breadth of delivery that primary teachers undertake, and an understanding of the issues affecting their work. All teachers involved can look to the General Teaching Council’s TLA, to have the work they undertake as part of the enterprise professionally recognised.

Primary Engineer are national partners with the National Centre for the Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics (NCETM) and the Science Learning Centres (SLC), which enables them to focus on additional resources and training opportunities for maths and science Continuing Professional Development (CPD). Industry links through the STEPs at Work programme places teachers in industry for a day to meet engineers and scientists to gather awareness of their role today helps fuel classroom delivery.

Teachers receive both paper-based and digital resources that support the course enabling secondary teachers to confidently deliver the practical skills with all the related paperwork, project briefs presentations, teacher and pupil workbooks – without having to design additional resources. Primary teachers are encouraged to also deliver the course to colleagues, even parents, in order to share good practice and enthusiasm.

Primary Engineer aims to provide teachers with exceptional resources which now include 12 complete lessons of interactive whiteboard resources designed to support lessons through: starter activities, investigation, focused practical tasks and plenaries, which include teachers’ notes and pupils’ digital workbooks.

Children develop their problem-solving and team-working skills by applying science, maths, literacy and ICT to a practical design and technology endeavour. The projects are whole-class based and inclusive. Workbooks are included for all the projects, which complement the CREST STAR Investigators award scheme (see page 53 of the guide).

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