Building and Baking

On Friday 30th January, Year 5 pupils from Maltman’s Green School enjoyed a visit to Leighton Park School, where they took part in one of two hands-on workshops: Sustainable Cooking or DT Lego. The visit provided an opportunity for Maltman’s Green pupils to experience learning beyond the classroom, combining theory with practical application in a fun and supportive environment

In the Sustainable Cooking workshop, pupils were introduced to important environmental ideas such as food miles, carbon footprints and the benefits of eating seasonal produce. Sustainability is a core to life at Leighton Park, and the session encouraged pupils to think about how everyday food choices can positively impact the planet. The highlight for many was the practical session in the Food Technology kitchen, where they developed key cooking skills while making a seasonal fruit crumble. Using locally sourced and frozen fruit, pupils learnt how freezing food at its peak can reduce waste while preserving flavour and nutrition. Along the way, they practised safe knife and peeler skills, including the ‘Bridge and Claw’ cutting technique.

Meanwhile, pupils taking part in the DT Lego workshop explored design theory and basic mechanical principles before putting their knowledge into practice. Working collaboratively in pairs, they designed and built Lego Technik vehicles with the challenge of creating a car capable of climbing a steep ramp. Through testing, adapting and refining their designs, pupils experienced the full design process, learning the value of teamwork, perseverance and creative problem-solving.

Anaya (Year 5 student) thought the workshop was fabulous and her favourite part was “Trying multiple times even after failing to rebuild the Lego car”, whilst Charlotte’s highlight was “seeing if my Lego car would go up the ramp”. Meanwhile, Avni who took part in the Sustainable Cooking most enjoyed “peeling the apples. This is because I have never peeled anything like this before” and Arabella enjoyed “Mixing up and weighing the crumble toppings” adding “It was so much fun and I have learnt about being sustainable and how to make apple and berry crumble”.

Margaret Mee, Head of Art and DT at Maltman’s Green sent a lovely message of thanks following the event: “Thank you for a fantastic day. The girls really enjoyed the visit and had nothing but praise for Leighton Park. The day was so well organised and all the staff we met were so enthusiastic and passionate about their work and the school. It was so positive.”

All in all, the day helped build on Maltman’s Green School’s key values: fostering resilience, encouraging a “can-do” attitude, promoting collaboration, and cultivating kindness, alongside excellence in subjects like STEAM.

You can read more about our approach to a Future Ready Curriculum here and see more photos from the day here.