Part of Boyd Education
What is D&T?
The Value of D&T in Schools
Useful Videos for Promoting D&T
Videos and other information on this page may be useful when promoting D&T at open evenings and other events. They may also be useful to use with students or as part of school displays.
Promoting D&T
D&T gives us the best of both worlds as it embraces both STEM and academic learning, as well as embracing learning within the arts. When promoting D&T it’s important to focus on both of these elements to demonstrate what an important subject D&T is and the broad impact it has.
​
D&T makes a massive contribution to STEM, with learning touching on science, technology, engineering or maths in some way in most lessons. The academic value of STEM subjects and their importance is undisputed and we should embrace these elements and how they add perceived value to D&T. This content is also explicitly built into the D&T curriculum and both maths and science are tested as part of the GCSE and A level exams.
Promoting D&T's STEM links to parents, students, SLT and other teachers (especially other STEM subjects), as well as the wider community helps others understand the breadth of learning in D&T and why it’s important.
​
D&T is also part of the arts and there's significant evidence about the importance of a balanced curriculum that includes access to learning through the arts. The Cultural Learning Alliance is a useful website for championing the rights of a child to arts and culture in education. In particular the findings of the ImagineNation: The Value of Cultural Learning report provides strong evidence statements that can be linked to D&T.
​
Visit the Design Council for useful reports and resources on the value of design in society, including the Design Economy report which is produced every 3 years with data on the state of design in the UK and it's value for the UK economy.
​
The D&T Association have a range of useful resources on the value of D&T, including some that are suitable for open evenings, options talks and displays generally.
​
This BBC article talks about concerns from Imperial College that the young people have less dexterity skills required to become surgeons because of the reduction in creative subjects on the curriculum. Specific references are made to D&T and to sewing skills in particular.