Teacher Accreditation Scheme

Health and Safety is an important part of teaching in Design and Technology and related subjects. Teachers and support staff must be knowledgeable about all relevant aspects of Health and Safety and feel confident in managing a healthy and safe working environment. It is crucial that teachers and support staff can identify the hazards and assess the risks, and determine how to remove or control the risks within an educational environment.

The Health and Safety Training Standards and the Accreditation Scheme were introduced to provide a sound framework so that staff can feel confident in carrying out their work, and be able to show evidence of meeting that requirement.

The scheme is available to all parts of the UK and the standards are compatible with Health and Safety for Design and Technology in Schools and Similar Establishments BS 4163 : 2007 which recommends that all staff working in Design and Technology and related areas can show that they meet the standards.

The cost for initial accreditation is £25 per person, payable to the D&T Association - accreditation for subsequent additional awards is £10.00.

Initial accreditation is for 5 years and the scheme maintains a database and record keeping system that will inform all accredited persons of significant changes to regulations. There is no legal requirement to meet these Health and Safety standards, but the D&T Association believes that all teachers and support staff should be accredited as part of their professional development. If an individual, governing body or LA decides not to use the standards it could be necessary to prove in a court of law that any safety measures they have in place are at least as stringent as the nationally laid down standards.

Areas covered by standards and accreditation scheme

Primary School Health and Safety (PHS)

For trainees taking Design and Technology as a specialist course and coordinators of Design and Technology in primary schools, with guidance for non-specialist primary school teachers.

Secondary School Health and Safety

There are three levels of accreditation:

1) Core level (SCHS) for all secondary teachers and trainees.

2) Specialist levels: these are the recommended training standards for those studying specialist areas and should be used in conjunction with the Core level:- Food Technology (SFHS) - Resistant Materials (SMHS) - Systems and Control (SSHS) - Textile Technology (STHS)

3) Specialist extension levels for resistant materials:- Wood sawing machines (S1HS)Centre lathe for metal cutting (S2HS) - Casting non-ferrous metals (S3HS) - Metal arc welding (S4HS) - Oxy-acetylene welding and cutting (S5HS) - Milling machines and machining centre (S6HS) - Wood turning lathe (S7HS) - Planer/thicknesser machine (S8HS)

A comprehensive range of Health & Safety publications is available from the ONLINE SHOP

D&T Association Accreditation and Certification

Training is carried out by one of the D&T Association's Registered Design and Technology Health and Safety Consultants (RDTHSC).

On completion of the training the RDTHSC will determine which areas are to be accredited and a certificate of accreditation can then be obtained from the D&T Association.