Last updated: 05 Aug 2008

Essential and valuable

Design and technology is an extravert subject. It must always be looking outwards for real contexts and purposes for creativity and innovation. It is not simply an analytical subject, studying what already exists; its whole purpose is about creating things which do not yet exist.

Contacts with the world outside school, therefore, are essential and valuable elements of any design and technology curriculum, but in establishing these essential contacts it is important that the discipline of design and technology is part of the dialogue with any external agency. Moreover, the curriculum planning, based on the discipline, must be rock-solid, transparent, and employed in any such dialogue.

How to make and find contacts

There are hundreds of national and local schemes, of all shapes and sizes, which promote good and effective links between schools and the world of science, technology and mathematics.

Many of these are co-ordinated by a central organisation called SETNET, a government funded charity. Its central office is in London but it co-ordinates the activities of a large number of regional SETPOINTS which are responsible for stimulating and supporting local initiatives.

To find out more about SETNET and your local SETPOINT, go to www.setnet.org.uk. This is a useful starting point and lists most of the national schemes.

But you may know of powerful support schemes in your own locality which may be the most effective for you.