This week, the Design and Technology Association launched its highly anticipated Vision Paper for 2023 at the V&A Museum. The paper, titled "Reimagining D&T," has garnered significant support from influential figures in the industry, including renowned design guru Sir Jony Ive, Will Butler Adams OBE, and Yewande Akinola. The Vision Paper emphasises the critical need for reviving design and technology education in the country's schools and proposes decisive actions to address the subject's decline in the curriculum.
Backed by extensive research conducted by the Education Policy Institute, the Vision document builds upon a report published in March 2022, which laid the groundwork for further discussions involving key stakeholders, including subject leaders, headteachers, Trust Executive Heads, business leaders, and sector experts. Ongoing engagement and updates have been provided to the government to ensure a comprehensive and well-rounded approach to the subject's transformation.
The proposals outlined in the Vision Paper call for several essential measures, including increasing the Initial Teacher Training (ITT) bursary to match other STEM subjects, providing incentives for industry professionals to transition into teaching design and technology, and securing funding for subject-based training for teachers across both primary and secondary sectors. These steps aim to equip educators with up-to-date knowledge and expertise and provide non-specialists teaching the subject with the necessary training.
