Engineers slam national curriculum plans

The Institution of Engineering and Technology(IET) said proposed changes to the National Curriculum in England for Design and Technology lack ambition and "appear to set significantly lower expectations for pupils".

The IET said there is "an inappropriately high focus on practical and life skills at the expense of encouraging students to innovate, design, create, and build, which should be at the heart of the subject".

The warning, from the comes in a submission to the Department for Education’s National Curriculum consultation.

Paul Davies, IET Head of Policy, said: “The draft Design & Technology curriculum has lacked expert input, and as a result, does not provide the rigour and challenge consistent with the needs of today.

“We are concerned about the lack of emphasis of how Design & Technology relates to and is used in the creation of new technologies and modern manufacturing processes, which is very important to inspire students into strategically important related subjects such as engineering.

“Without this link, students will not be adequately prepared for career opportunities and the needs of employers and, more worryingly, this will exacerbate the technical skills shortage that the UK is currently facing.

“This is contradictory to the government’s attempts to rebalance the economy towards manufacturing industries.”

The Department for Education has published draft curriculums for 10 secondary school subjects, to be taught from September 2014.

A spokesman said:

"We will consider views on how we can create a curriculum that will embody high expectations and give every child the broad and balanced education they need to fulfil their potential."