Hands-On D&T with the James Dyson Foundation

Published 7th May 2025

We were proud to partner once again with the James Dyson Foundation to deliver a fully funded national CPD day at their campus in Malmesbury. Teachers from across the UK travelled far and wide to attend the session, immersing themselves in a full day of practical hands-on activities, expert insights, and inspiration.

Led by Ryan Ball, our Director of Education, the day focused on developing problem-solving, creativity, and innovation. Participants explored a wide range of tasks designed to boost classroom practice, including:

• Gamification: Using game design to boost student motivation
• Engineering tasks: Building structures with simple materials
• Micro:bit: Coding for engagement and cross-curricular links
• Mechanisms: Exploring tabs, flanges, and slots in construction

A highlight of the day was hearing from Ella Palethorpe, a Dyson engineer who spoke passionately about the impact D&T had on her career path - reinforcing the importance of the subject in nurturing future design talent.

The day also included group team challenges, such as building interactive structures for a colony of hex bugs, drawing on knowledge of materials, motion, and form to solve real design problems.

Participants engaged with the James Dyson Foundation’s Challenge Cards and explored teaching strategies that promote independence, resilience, and creativity. Many left with new ideas to apply directly in the classroom and a stronger understanding of how D&T links to real-world engineering.

Teachers left the event energised and eager to take new ideas back to the classroom. One attendee reflected:

“It was incredibly motivating—not just hearing from the course instructors, but also getting the chance to explore the Dyson Institute. I’m looking forward to sharing what I learned with my pupils and inspiring them with a sense of where a career in engineering could take them.”

We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the James Dyson Foundation for their continued partnership and support of D&T education. 

“A fantastic day at Dyson HQ with the James Dyson Foundation – a real highlight of the year. Teachers explored gamification, coding with Micro:bit, and hands-on challenges. Huge thanks to  the James Dyson Foundation for their continued support of D&T.”

— Ryan Ball, Director of Education, Design & Technology Association

As always, we are committed to providing ongoing support through webinars, E-Learning, and bespoke training for schools. For more information on CPD opportunities, please email: info@designtechnology.org.uk