Being Engineers
Our Vision
An Engineer at The Weald, builds creative, technical and practical skills and knowledge in order to design, make and evaluate products that solve real-
world problems. They learn to use tools effectively and safely to make increasingly complex structures, including mechanical, electrical and computer systems. An Engineer also uses the skills and knowledge of a gardener and chef, understanding and mastering the practical skills needed to grow plants, including those that can be used for food and understanding what makes a healthy diet.
How we plan and teach for being engineers
At The Weald, being an Engineer is embedded in enquiry learning. Some enquiries are lead 
engineer, where new or explicit skills are taught. Other enquiries use being an engineer as a supportive state of being, helping the children to apply new know of and know how in different ways. Through enquiries, teachers plan sequences of lessons that will build on and develop the children’s skills culminating in a final project. The skills and knowledge that children will develop throughout each enquiry are mapped across the school to ensure progression. The key skills of designing, making (cutting, shaping, joining & finishing) and evaluating are returned to and developed annually. The emphasis on knowledge ensures that children understand the context of the project, as well as the engineers that they are learning about and being inspired by.
At The Weald, opportunities are taken to enrich the engineering curriculum that has been delivered through enquiries. In addition to curriculum learning, engineering skills are also taught within clubs: Cooking club, Gardening club and Forest Schools
How we evaluate our learning as engineers
At the Weald, we know that we have created engineers, who can transition successfully to KS3
Design and Technology, if children can:
- Confidently demonstrate the skills needed to cut, shape, join, and finish a range of materials to create high-quality products.
- Critically evaluate products and suggest improvements.
- Recall key knowledge relating to mechanical and electrical systems; and background knowledge relating to engineers through history.
As engineers, we encourage children to celebrate their learning and we ensure we find opportunities to share the children’s learning and designs with parents.
Useful Links to inspire your engineers at home: