We asked teachers to identify their concerns at centre level, which we have translated into the following list:
- Recruitment – the challenges faced by schools and subject leaders around being unable to recruit a subject specialist.
- Cost – the issues associated with updating or replacing equipment, workshop maintenance, and the ongoing cost of training and H&S accreditation, which includes recent pressures associated with cost of living and the consumables for NEA making.
- A decline in numbers of students choosing the subject, and its declining value in the school curriculum compared to “academic” optional subjects at KS4 and KS5.
- The lack of value of A level D&T towards progression pathways at higher education level, including both as a required subject for design related degrees, and for non-design related degrees (as a 3rd grade). A level D&T was judged harder to achieve a high grade compared to A level Art, Craft and Design.
- Poor perceptions of the subject in the eyes of parents, not only linked to higher education progression, but also associated with the low quality of outcome (products) being made and taken home to parents throughout KS3 to 5.
- A lack of diversity in the student exam group cohorts, in schools failing to retain female students at both GCSE and A Level, failing to attract cohorts that are representative of the school's demography, and a decline in females interested in Design, who choose Art college over Design.
It was evident that D&T teachers were aware of the lack of value of the subject to stakeholders around them, notably parents and higher education.
Higher education progression presents a significant issue for D&T, given the lack of value the subject holds to the application process for design degrees (where mathematics and science are required, and a third grade can come from any discipline). This disconnect between secondary and higher education can be traced back to a number of challenges, which include:
- the D&T curriculum has tried to provide the study of too many separate material specialisms in one “catch all” subject, whilst a more focused study of one pathway would be better for design degree progression
- work from A level D&T None Exam Assessment (NEA) portfolios presented to HE staff during interview does not include suitable evidence required to study higher level design. (user centred design, service design, and experience design)
It was noted that...
...Whilst A level D&T was not an inhibiter to progression, candidates that presented portfolios with a heavy emphasis of manufacturing evidence were less likely to be offered a place onto the design course.
...Teachers were aware that students would potentially be better placed seeking a third grade from another subject such as Art, Craft and Design, than from D&T, due to the D&T exam component (students would typically do well in one component type but not the other).
...Students unsure about their desire to study design at degree level would be potentially better off studying subjects such as Psychology or Business, which not only add value and increase the potential opportunity for students to use this learning for the purpose of a design degree, but also provide students with more choice should a design degree not be their intended degree choice.