Design Technology & Engineering

Design

Head of Department - Mrs Williams

Design Technology and Engineering at Holy Family

Design Technology and Engineering has evolved significantly over the last three decades. While many parents may remember DT as primarily woodwork, metalwork or technical drawing, today's subject reflects the way products, systems and technologies are designed, developed and manufactured in the modern world.

The Design and Technology Association states that Design Technology enables students to "design and make products that solve real and relevant problems" and develop a "critical understanding of its impact on daily life and the wider world". [designtech...ogy.org.uk]

At Holy Family, our curriculum remains firmly rooted in the National Curriculum while preparing students for the demands of higher education and the workplace. Through a combination of practical projects, engineering challenges and digital design, students develop:

• Creative thinking and innovation
• Critical thinking and problem-solving
• Computer Aided Design (CAD)
• Engineering design processes
• Communication and presentation skills
• Teamwork and project management
• Sustainability and environmental awareness
• Evaluation and decision-making

The Design and Technology Association highlights that "industry is crying out for people with creative problem-solving skills, critical thinking, adaptability and resilience" and recognises Design Technology as one of the few subjects where "science and creativity meet, and students get to solve real-world problems in innovative ways". [designtech...ogy.org.uk]

Why Are Lessons Taught in a Computer Room?

A common question from parents is why Design Technology and Engineering is increasingly taught in an IT environment.

The answer is simple: this reflects modern industry. Before products are manufactured, they are designed, modelled, tested and refined digitally. Engineers, architects, product designers and manufacturers now spend a significant proportion of their time using digital technologies rather than working directly in workshops.

By teaching students in a computer-based environment, we are able to develop industry-relevant skills such as CAD, design communication, project management, digital prototyping and engineering analysis. These are the same skills used daily across manufacturing, engineering, construction, product design and technology industries.

Practical making remains an important element of the curriculum. However, modern Design Technology and Engineering combines practical work with digital design and engineering processes to better prepare students for the world they will enter after school.

The Evolution of Design Technology

The subject has continually adapted to reflect developments in technology, industry and society:

• Pre-1980s: Woodwork, Metalwork and Technical Drawing were taught as separate subjects.
• 1980s: Schools began moving towards Design & Technology, combining practical skills with designing and problem solving.
• 1990: Design & Technology became a National Curriculum subject.
• 2000s: Increased emphasis on CAD, electronics, systems and control.
• 2010s: Greater focus on engineering principles, sustainability and design thinking.
• Today: Digital technologies, user-centred design, CAD, innovation and real-world problem solving sit alongside practical making and manufacturing awareness. [designtech...ogy.org.uk], [designtech...ogy.org.uk]

Industry-Standard Resources

We are proud to utilise engineering resources provided by the James Dyson Foundation alongside Autodesk Fusion, an industry-standard CAD platform used by professional designers, engineers and manufacturers worldwide. Autodesk describes Fusion as a platform that helps take learners "from classroom to career". [autodesk.com], [autodesk.com]

By working with industry-standard software, students gain experience of the same design processes used across engineering, manufacturing, construction and product design sectors. Just as professional engineers and product designers create and test digital models before manufacturing begins, our students are learning the same professional workflows using industry-standard software and resources.

These experiences help prepare students for careers including:

• Engineering
• Product Design
• Architecture
• Manufacturing
• Construction
• Robotics
• Automotive Engineering
• Industrial Design
• Digital Design and Technology

Autodesk Fusion is widely used across industries including advanced manufacturing, aerospace, engineering and product development, helping students develop skills that are directly relevant to the modern workplace. [theirstack.com], [app.learn-...todesk.com]

Clear Progression Pathways

To further strengthen our curriculum offer, Holy Family has introduced the AAQ in Engineering within our Sixth Form provision.

As the next stage in Holy Family's Design Technology and Engineering curriculum, the AAQ in Engineering builds upon the foundations established at Key Stage 3 and through the WJEC Level 2 Engineering qualification, creating a seamless pathway into higher education, apprenticeships and engineering-related careers.

The qualification enables students to deepen their understanding of engineering principles, design processes and real-world applications while developing the technical knowledge and professional skills valued by universities and employers.

The introduction of AAQ Engineering creates a coherent Design Technology and Engineering pathway from Year 7 through to Sixth Form, ensuring students gradually build the knowledge, technical understanding and employability skills needed for future success.

Looking to the Future

Practical making remains an important part of Design Technology and Engineering. However, the purpose of the subject is broader than training students in a specific trade. Instead, it provides students with a broad foundation in design, engineering, creativity and problem-solving that can be applied across a wide range of careers.

At Holy Family, we believe that school-based Design Technology and Engineering should develop adaptable, capable young people who can think creatively, solve problems and embrace new technologies. More specialised trade skills and technical training are typically developed later through apprenticeships, T Levels, further education, university courses and workplace training. Our role is to equip students with the knowledge, confidence and technical understanding needed to access those opportunities and thrive within them. [designtech...ogy.org.uk], [designtech...ogy.org.uk], [gov.uk]

Design Technology and Engineering at Holy Family is about developing the next generation of designers, engineers, innovators and problem-solvers, equipped with the skills needed to succeed in a rapidly changing world.