Empowering Secondary Teachers in Design and Technology

Published 11th October 2023

This month, we hosted a three-day training course at our headquarters in Banbury, aimed at equipping secondary teachers with the necessary tools to deliver an engaging and comprehensive Design and Technology (D&T) curriculum.

The event drew educators from various schools to enhance their grasp of D&T and refine their teaching methods. Over the course of three intensive days, participants engaged in a series of enriching discussions, workshops, and hands-on experiences, led by our experienced Curriculum Consultant, Lol Conway.

Lol explains, “The 3 Day Intensive Course is the perfect course for ECTs or non-specialist teachers as it covers a wide range of introductory knowledge from both a practical and theoretical standpoint. The course in October saw a group of non-specialist teachers at different points in their careers and from a range of schools come together to gain a better understanding of Design and Technology as a subject. The group were eager to gain as much knowledge as possible as well as being really supportive of each other as we worked our way through the course. The best part of the course was that it was truly collaborative with everyone getting involved in discussions regarding best practise and the future of the subject. During practical activities everyone supported each other in a friendly and non judgmental manner. A great course with fantastic delegates. “

Participants gained insights into the key stages of secondary education and developed the skills needed to strategically plan a 5 or 7-year D&T curriculum. This left teachers with a newfound confidence in their long-term planning and lesson sequencing abilities.

Furthermore, teachers honed their skills in using CAD, CAM, and visual communication, essential tools in modern D&T education.

Leah Foley from Bedford Girls School attended and remarked, “The 3-day course was very informative and delivered well. I gained an understanding of how the D&T curriculum has evolved over time and what is required to deliver an effective curriculum to enable our future generation of designers to flourish. I would recommend this course to any teachers new to teaching D&T.”

Hands-on learning was a cornerstone of the course, providing teachers with invaluable practical experience. Participants had the opportunity to work with a range of materials, including timber, polymers, textiles, electronics, and modelling materials.

Teachers departed the event with a deeper understanding of D&T and newfound confidence in their teaching abilities. They are now poised to ignite creativity and innovation in the next generation of designers and engineers.

Dates are being arranged for further delivery of this course. Contact events@designtechnology.org.uk for more information or have a look at our other courses here.