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How OCL's Design and Technology (D&T) Curriculum Promotes Creative and Sustainable Practices
How OCL's Design and Technology (D&T) Curriculum Promotes Creative and Sustainable Practices

In today's fast-changing world, we must nurture both creativity and sustainability. OCL's D&T KS3 curriculum weaves these elements throughout its three-year course, preparing students to be thoughtful designers and responsible innovators.

The curriculum starts in Year 7 with "Investigate, iterate, ignite." This is a structured approach that builds creative confidence from the ground up. Students start with constrained problems and then move to open-ended designs. This allows their creativity to flourish within set limits. This method ensures that all students can grow their creativity while building their technical skills, regardless of  prior experience.

Sustainable Thinking at Every Level: Sustainability is not an add-on; the curriculum embeds it. From Year 7, students analyse products and consider the broader effects of their design choices. This continues in Years 8 and 9, where students explore more complex products and their environmental impacts. Key sustainability concepts include:

  • Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) of products and materials
  • Understanding embodied water, CO2, and energy in products.
  • Exploration of "miracle materials" and their environmental implications.
  • Critical analysis of packaging and waste.
  • Investigation of ethical sourcing and manufacturing processes.

The curriculum uses digital tools, especially CAD, to boost creativity and sustainability. Students use virtual testing and simulation, reducing waste while exploring design iterations. This digital-first approach prepares students for industry standards and demonstrates how technology can support sustainable design.

As students progress through the curriculum, they face real-world challenges that connect theory to practice. Year 9 students oscillate between micro-decisions and macro-systems, understanding how individual design choices impact larger environmental and social systems. This helps students recognise how designers can address social issues and promote sustainability.

 What sets this curriculum apart is its holistic approach to D&T education. While technical competence important, we also place equal emphasis on developing:

  • Critical thinking and problem-solving abilities
  • Ethical awareness and responsibility
  • Collaborative skills and communication
  • Understanding of systems thinking
  • Ability to make informed design decisions

The OCL D&T curriculum seeks to create future-ready individuals who not only understand the "good" design principles but also recognise their social and environmental responsibilities. By combining creative confidence with sustainable responsibility, OCL’s D&T curriculum prepares students to make a positive impact on their communities and the planet.

How OCL's Design and Technology (D&T) Curriculum Promotes Creative and Sustainable Practices
Jemma Limbani