Drop in pupils studying design ‘could see subject wiped out’

The fall in the number of pupils taking Design & Technology GCSEs represents a ‘dire picture’ for the subject, according to experts.

Source: Comedy_Nose

Richard Green, chief executive of the D&T Association, warns that the drop in the number of pupils taking design subjects could lead to design teaching being wiped out from many schools the UK.
He says, ‘Twenty-five years ago Britain became the first country in the world to enshrine Design And Technology in the National Curriculum.
‘Today, as booming economies in the Far East look to copy the model Britain pioneered, we face the very real prospect that Design and Technology could disappear entirely from many schools within the next five years.’
The Design & Technology Association says that this year there has been a 3 per cent fall in the number of students taking D&T at GCSE – more than 6000 fewer than last year.
The DTA says this drop is likely to be a reaction to the rise in single sciences and the promotion of languages and humanities as part of the Ebacc school ranking system.
Green says the drop ‘paints a dire picture for the subject, but the reality is likely to get far, far worse.’
Green adds, ‘The English Baccalaureate (EBacc), which schools are now judged on, marginalises creative and practical subjects in favour of a very narrow set of academic measures.
‘UK creative industries contribute over £71 billion to the UK economy, but the constraints EBacc places on schools is squeezing the life out of the very subjects upon which Britain’s future as a global creative powerhouse is built.’
The reduction in the number of GCSE D&T candidates follows a drop in the number of students taking D&T A-Levels.
The D&T Association says that just over 13,500 students took specialist D&T A-Level this year, a fall of more than 25 per cent from 2006.

(Thu, 21 Aug 2014 | By Angus Montgomery)

Digital designers go back to school to promote industry

The British Interactive Media Association is urging digital agencies to sign up for Digital Day, a nationwide initiative which aims to bridge the gap between young people and the digital industry.

Pupils taking part in the 2013 BIMA D-Day

Digital Day (D-Day) will take place on 8 October and will see professionals from digital agencies go back to school to give students an insight into life in the industry. Using special resources they run workshops on digital design, mobile apps, social media and web development.
The ideas developed in the sessions are entered into a nationwide Digital Day competition, with the winning team crowned as Digital Day Grand Prix winners.
BIMA says the event is run in a bid to combat ‘a growing digital skills shortage in the UK’. It cites a report commissioned by O2 last year that estimates that the UK will need 750,000 more digitally-skilled workers in its economy by 2017, to capitalise on an estimated £12 billion opportunity.
Agencies including iCrossing, DigitasLBi, Zone, Freestyle Interactive and e3 are already signed up to take part in this year’s D-Day, but BIMA says it is still looking for more agencies to be matched up with schools, particularly those based in London, the North West and the Midlands.
Agencies and schools who are interested in participating should sign up via the BIMA D-Day website. BIMA will match agencies with schools in the same area and provide resources and guidance.

(Wed, 20 Aug 2014 | By Angus Montgomery)

More able pupils ‘discouraged’ from studying design, teachers say

The majority of senior school staff fail to see the value of art and design education and ‘more able’ students are frequently discouraged from studying the subject, according to a new survey of teachers.

Source: Editor B

The study, by the National Society for Art and Education in Design, shows that just 32 per cent of teachers believe that art, craft and design is highly valued by senior managers of governers.
One art and design teacher says in the survey, ‘Staff are paid extra to provide revision classes for core subjects in holiday periods, whereas I voluntarily provided exam prep, holiday periods and weekends.’
The survey also shows that just 27 per cent of teachers say pupils are being encouraged to take art-based options.
One teacher said, ‘More able students are discouraged from taking art-based subjects even if they show a particular interest or talent for the subject. Students are “put” into art groups because it is deemed “easy enough” for them.’
The report shows the effect of performance measures such as the English Baccalaureate on art and design teaching. A total of 52 per cent of all heads of department surveyed said that Ebacc had played an important role in the teaching of art, craft and design at their schools.
One respondent said Ebacc had resulted in ‘a reduction of student choice, [with] higher ability students discouraged from practical subjects’.
Many teachers also reported a decrease in the amount of time for teaching art and design and the numbers of trained staff.
Just 36 per cent said their staff levels had remained the same over the last three years, while 35 per cent disagreed or strongly disagreed that time allocated for art, craft and design had remained constant over the past three years.
The survey was carried out in May across 172 NSEAD members and supporters.

(Mon, 4 Aug 2014 | By Angus Montgomery)