Design and Technology

Design and Technology education in schools (D&T) prepares children for life in a technological society by providing them with opportunities to combine practical and technological skills with creative thinking to design and make quality products that meet human needs.

Design and Technology education also provides children with opportunities to learn from the achievements of the past, to understand the processes which currently shape the designed and made world, and to acquire the skills to become active participants in building its future.

Design and Technology education is characterised by:

• the requirement to design and make real products which can be tested in use;
• the need to use a variety of materials and processes;
• the use of information technology to enhance designing and making particularly in terms of modelling, manufacturing and control;
• the application of other subject areas especially mathematics, science, art and design;
• the study of commercial products and applications;
• an understanding of designing an making from other times and other cultures;
• working in partnership with industry and commerce.