Accommodation

Room Design for D&T

Rooms are important

The design and layout of teaching areas for D&T is an important factor in students' success in this curriculum area, as well as a factor in efficient running of a department. Students respond more positively in a structured, well-ordered environment designed with learning needs in mind.

What are the D&T Building Regulations?

Building Bulletin 81: Design and Technology Accommodation in Secondary Schools - A Design Guide is available to order from The Stationery Office.

For a food room guidance document ‘Food Technology Spaces in Secondary Schools - A Design Guide’ is available for download here.

The Association advises that the advice provided in the Building Bulletin is used as a standard reference for matters of accommodation, room design and layout.

Groups sizes in D&T

As a general guide, and consistent with the guidelines in Building Bulletin 81 and BS 4163:2007, group size should continue to be in the order of 20/21. In Scotland and Northern Ireland there is a legal maximum of 20 and there is little evidence to show that the needs in England and Wales warrant a different treatment. BS4163 is available from the online shop.

Health and Safety

The health and safety section provides details of health and safety policy, risk assessment in relation to group size and equipment used, strategies for students and risk assessment methods within all D&T teaching areas. A pack of H&S publications is available from the online shop.

D&T Association advice and publications

Advice on setting up departments is available in Quick Step Guide Designing your new D&T department, available from the online shop.
Members will find additional articles and papers which relate to accommodation in the Resource Vault.

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