Send me a message.

In this episode of Talking D&T, I had the pleasure of interviewing Ryan Ball from the D&T Association. Our conversation centred around the current state of the design and technology teaching workforce in England. Ryan shared his insights from visiting numerous schools across the country, highlighting the enthusiasm of primary school teachers and the challenges faced by secondary school teachers.

We discussed the shift in demographics, with younger teachers bringing fresh ideas and skills in areas such as CAD and rapid prototyping. However, we also noted the increasing number of non-specialist teachers in D&T, which can impact the quality of teaching and the subject's perception. The D&T Association is addressing this issue by offering courses for non-specialist teachers and advocating for the subject with the government.

Ryan emphasised the importance of subject-specific CPD, adequate funding for resources, and support for teachers to maintain their passion and confidence in teaching D&T. We also touched upon the need for teachers to promote the subject effectively within their schools, considering the diverse needs of students in different locations.

Throughout our conversation, Ryan's enthusiasm for D&T shone through, and we both agreed that by working together as a community, we could continue to support teachers and promote the value of the subject. I left the interview feeling optimistic about the future of D&T education in England.

(Text generated by AI, edited by Alison Hardy)

D&T Association

House of Commons Evidence Select Committee Report, published in June 2023

Support the show

If you like the podcast, you can always buy me a coffee to say 'thanks!'

Please offer your feedback about the show or ideas for future episodes and topics by connecting with me on Threads @hardy_alison or by emailing me.

If you listen to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, please take a moment to rate and/or review the show.

If you want to support me by becoming a Patron click here.

If you are not able to support me financially, please consider leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or sharing a link to my work on social media. Thank you!