Behind every smooth event it is chaos behind-the-scenes. 

In July 2024 Kate Finlay created the very first Big D&T Meet from her base in Norfolk. Andrew Browne had managed to sign us up as keynote speakers for the event. Kate’s energy and passion for the subject was evident in the success of the event. When she asked if we would host the 2025 event at Baysgarth School we agreed straight away, announcing this at the end of our keynote speech. #It’sNotNorfolk!

At the time, not a single soul at Baysgarth—least of all the headteacher—knew what we’d just signed up for. But as the old saying goes, it’s often better to seek forgiveness than ask for permission. Fortunately, our headteacher is both progressive and remarkably trusting. It may also have helped that we broke the news during a staff night out, two drinks in—strategic timing, some might say.

For The Big D&T Meet 2025 at Baysgarth School, the planning began with The Spreadsheet—a multi-tabbed beast, tracking every detail from exhibitors and speakers to lunch and lanyards. It became so complex that Kate, despite being a seasoned organiser, admitted she was scared to even edit it—mostly because I guarded it like a technician protecting the last working glue gun. 

But beneath the jokes and colour-coded cells was a serious mission. We formed a dedicated team with a shared goal: to create a conference by D&T teachers, for D&T teachers. A day that would showcase the best practice in design and technology, and remind teachers why their subject matters. Together, we poured our passion into every detail of the event—right down to Lego hand napkin holders and flowers, recycled-material lanyards, goody bags and a giant deck chair to welcome delegates.

Because when you're D&T teachers, planning a conference naturally includes building things.

Conferences like The Big D&T Meet provide more than CPD - they offer encouragement, inspiration, and solidarity. Teachers who attend leave with new strategies, contacts, and a refreshed sense of purpose. They see what others are doing, share challenges and successes, and remember that they are part of a wider community.

This is particularly important at a time when the D&T teaching workforce is under significant pressure. Since 2010, there has been a steady decline in the number of specialist D&T teachers. According to DfE data, the number of teachers in the subject has dropped by over 50% in the last 15 years. Recruitment remains a challenge, and many existing teachers report heavy workloads and limited access to subject-specific CPD.

That’s why events like The Big D&T Meet matter. They are a statement of belief in the subject’s future - and an investment in the teachers who will shape it.

Legacy and the road ahead

The Big D&T Meet is not a one-off. It is the start of something bigger - a national, annual event that will move to different locations across the UK, making sure that D&T teachers in all regions can access the high-quality CPD they deserve.

At Baysgarth, that legacy will also be physical. During the event, we broke ground on the school’s new Greenpower test track - a purpose-built facility that will allow students to design, build and race electric cars as part of our engineering and D&T learning. The track, set to open in spring 2026, reflects the conference’s broader theme: learning by doing, and connecting classroom learning with real-world applications.

Building the future of D&T

The Big D&T Meet was more than a conference - it was a celebration of a subject that fosters creativity, problem-solving, collaboration, and resilience. It reminded teachers why they do what they do, and why D&T is so crucial for preparing students for the future of work.

Thanks to a spreadsheet, a deck chair, and a team that never stopped believing in their subject, over two hundred teachers left Barton inspired and reconnected. The future of D&T education is brighter for it—and the journey continues next year at De Montfort University.

Resources from The Big D&T Meet 2025 can be found on the website https://www.thebigdtmeet.com/ , along with updates regarding The Big D&T Meet 2026 to be hosted at De Montfort University.