Bristol regional support

The new Regional Membership movement from the Design & Technology Association connects schools with industry, curriculum support, and high-quality professional development to strengthen design and technology across the region.

Funded by local industry partners such as Samsung UK and the James Dyson Foundation, and delivered locally, the movement removes financial barriers for schools while giving teachers access to practical support, curriculum resources, CPD, and meaningful industry engagement.

This is a long-term regional partnership designed to support schools, strengthen teaching, and help pupils understand the real-world relevance of design and technology through connections to engineering, manufacturing, digital technologies and creative industries.

What is the Regional Membership Movement?

The Regional Membership movement is a new industry-funded model designed to support schools in delivering high-quality design and technology education.

Launching initially across Bristol, Avon and Gloucestershire, alongside parts of Somerset and Devon, the movement brings together schools, employers and the Design & Technology Association to strengthen curriculum delivery, teacher confidence and career-connected learning.

Check whether your school's postcode is eligible.

Through this regional approach, schools receive:

Fully funded access to curriculum resources and teaching support
Ongoing CPD and E-Learning opportunities for teachers
Support for subject leadership and curriculum planning
Industry engagement through talks, webinars, visits and real-world contexts
Access to practical resources that support classroom delivery
Stronger links between classroom learning and future careers

The focus is on supporting teachers with practical, high-quality guidance while helping pupils better understand where design and technology can take them.

Access your membership →

Primary schools

Primary membership supports schools in delivering excellent and progressive design and technology across the primary phase through structured planning resources, practical support and ongoing professional development.

The offer is designed to reduce workload, strengthen curriculum confidence, and help teachers deliver engaging learning experiences that support progression from Key Stage 1 through to Key Stage 2.

What primary schools receive

Projects on a Page primary planning resource

Primary schools receive access to Projects on a Page, a structured planning resource designed to support imaginative and progressive delivery of the design and technology curriculum across Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2.

The resource includes planners covering areas such as:

Mechanisms
Structures
Food
Textiles
Electrical systems
Mechanical systems
CAD and digital technologies

Each planner includes step-by-step guidance, teacher tips, key vocabulary and practical advice to support confident classroom delivery and progression across year groups.

Find out more about the Projects on a Page primary planning resource and how it supports progression across the primary phase.

Learn more about Projects on a Page →

Support for primary teachers

The movement provides practical support for teachers and subject leaders through:

Curriculum guidance and planning support
Subject leadership support
Practical classroom advice and delivery guidance
Reduced workload through structured planning resources
Ongoing updates and curriculum developments
Access to support from the Design & Technology Association team

The focus is on ensuring teachers feel confident and well-supported when delivering design and technology.

Free CPD, hosted in the Bristol area, for primary teachers

Primary CPD is designed to strengthen subject knowledge, build confidence and support effective classroom practice.

Schools benefit from:

Free local CPD opportunities
Practical training focused on classroom delivery
Support for non-specialists and subject leaders
Guidance on progression and curriculum implementation
Flexible E-Learning opportunities
Reduced need for costly travel to subject-specific CPD

Explore CPD opportunities designed specifically to support primary teachers.

View primary CPD opportunities → (remember, do not book on the website - register your interest here)

Free featured Primary in-person CPD*

Engaging Primary D&T with the James Dyson Foundation

Wiltshire | 24th June 2026 | 09:30 - 16:30

This full-day, in-person course helps primary teachers and subject leaders build confidence in delivering engaging, high-quality design and technology. Using the Projects on a Page (POAP) resource, teachers explore how to plan progressive, purposeful lessons that go beyond “making by numbers” activities.

Teachers will gain practical strategies for curriculum design, lesson sequencing and ensuring progression across key stages, alongside hands-on experience using POAP materials to create meaningful D&T learning experiences.

Find out more and register your interest →

*Current CPD in the Bristol area is free for your teachers to attend. To secure free places, please register your interest. Please do not book through the website; use the 'register your interest' form instead.

Secondary schools

Secondary membership supports departments in delivering high-quality, coherent and career-connected design and technology across Key Stages 3 and 4.

The movement combines curriculum support, CPD, industry engagement and practical teaching resources to help departments strengthen curriculum delivery while connecting learning to real-world application and future careers.

What secondary schools receive

Inspired by Industry, KS3 real-world contexts

Secondary schools receive access to Inspired by Industry, developed with leading design and manufacturing companies to support Key Stage 3 teaching through authentic real-world contexts.

The resources help teachers deliver learning in ways that reflect how organisations design, prototype and test products in industry, while strengthening progression between Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4.

The programme supports teaching across:

Design
Investigation
Making
Evaluation
Technical knowledge
Communication
Curriculum links and progression

Additional curriculum support materials, including Focus Tasks and Investigative and Evaluative Activities, support teachers in embedding these contexts effectively within their curriculum planning.

Learn more about Inspired by Industry → (remember, do not book on the website - register your interest here)

Support for secondary departments

The movement supports secondary departments through:

Curriculum planning and sequencing support
Teaching resources for practical and theoretical learning
Subject leadership guidance
Department-wide membership access
Opportunities to connect with industry and regional employers
Support for strengthening progression into KS4 and beyond

The focus is on helping departments deliver ambitious, relevant and engaging design and technology that connects classroom learning with future opportunities.

CPD for secondary teachers

Secondary CPD is designed to strengthen subject expertise and support high-quality teaching practice.

Schools benefit from:

Free local CPD opportunities
Subject-specific professional development
Practical workshops linked to classroom delivery
Industry-informed training and real-world contexts
Opportunities to collaborate with departments across the region
Flexible E-Learning opportunities

Explore CPD opportunities designed specifically to support secondary teachers.

View secondary CPD opportunities →

Free featured Secondary in-person CPD

Planning Your KS3 Curriculum with Inspired by Industry

Bristol| 23rd June 2026 | 09:30 - 16:30

This full-day course helps secondary design and technology teachers and leaders plan a knowledge-rich, context-led KS3 curriculum using Inspired by Industry from the Design & Technology Association.

Teachers will explore practical strategies for sequencing learning, embedding real-world industry contexts and strengthening progression into KS4, leaving with greater confidence in refining and developing their KS3 curriculum.

Find out more and register your interest →

Supporting schools across the region

This initiative is about more than resources and training. It is about creating stronger links between schools, industry and future careers while supporting teachers to deliver excellent design and technology with confidence.

For schools, this means:

Stronger curriculum support
Reduced financial barriers
Improved teacher confidence and subject knowledge
Greater access to industry engagement
More relevant, future-facing learning for pupils
Ongoing support from the Design & Technology Association

For pupils, it means greater awareness of future pathways in:

Engineering
Manufacturing
Product design
Creative industries
Digital technologies
Emerging industries and sustainability-focused careers

By connecting classrooms with industry and supporting teachers with practical, high-quality guidance, the Regional Membership movement helps strengthen design and technology across the Bristol region for the long term.