RETHINKING DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY
GLOBAL PROBLEMS NEED PRACTICAL MINDS
The UK suffers a shortfall of 59,000 engineers every year (EngineeringUK). To solve this, we need more young people to choose a future in engineering. The best way to achieve this is by engaging students at an early age in exciting, industry-relevant Design and Technology (D&T) lessons.
"Design and Technology should be as riveting and relevant as the career it channels into. Logical, creative and practical, it's the only opportunity that school students have to apply what they learn in maths and science - directly preparing them for a future in engineering".
PROPOSED SOLUTION
ENABLING PROJECT-BASED LEARNING
We believe in a Design and Technology curriculum that is based on an iterative design process and project-based learning. Students can then understand the relevance of the subject, leading to increased numbers opting to study D&T at GCSE level.
TESTING THE THEORY
A PROBLEM-LED CURRICULUM
In 2012, the James Dyson Foundation donated £75,000 to five secondary schools in Bath (UK) to allow them to buy cutting-edge equipment and develop their D&T labs. The Foundation worked with teachers to build a problem-led curriculum, encouraging students to work in teams on a design brief, to prototype, iteratively test and re-design their inventions. In 2024, the Foundation provided further funding to allow these schools to update their equipment and lab spaces.
BATH SCHOOLS REPORT
MEASURING OUR IMPACT
Read the James Dyson Foundation's full project report for more details on our hypothesis, methodology, results and recommendations.
D&T SUPPORT
MAKE IT HAPPEN
Based on our work with the Bath schools, we have developed a series of free lesson plans for all schools looking to teach a project-led Design and Technology (D&T) curriculum.