Lead Subject Mentor for Design & Technology Kate Hoddy, Thurstable School
Course Overview
he Design and Technology course at CTTC supports you in developing the confidence and practical knowledge to teach across the full breadth of D&T, including product design, resistant materials, textiles, electronics, and food preparation and nutrition, depending on your specialism and background.
You’ll explore how to teach the iterative design process – researching, designing, making, and evaluating – and how to inspire pupils to become creative problem-solvers. The course includes hands-on experience with tools, materials, and digital technologies, and supports safe and inclusive workshop practice.
As part of your training, you’ll learn how to plan engaging projects that integrate real-world issues such as sustainability, ethics, and innovation, giving pupils a sense of purpose and relevance in their work. You’ll also develop your assessment strategies and learn how to foster creativity, independence, and collaboration in the design classroom.
What You’ll Learn
- Planning and delivering engaging D&T projects from design brief to finished product
- Health and safety protocols and risk assessments in practical settings
- Strategies for teaching designing, making, and evaluating
- Integrating sustainability and innovation into the curriculum
- Supporting creativity and independence in a practical subject
Placement Experience
During your placements, you’ll experience the breadth of D&T taught in schools and will take responsibility for leading practical sessions. You’ll receive guidance from your school-based mentor to build your skills in planning, assessment, and managing workshop environments effectively.
Recommended Reading
- Teaching Design and Technology 3–11 by Douglas Newton
- Design and Technology: A Level Textbook by Edexcel
- Design & Technology: Curriculum Progression Frameworks (DfE)
Useful Websites
