Design and Technology: GCSE

(asked on 11th June 2018) - View Source

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to Engineering UK's 2018 State of Engineering Report, what assessment he has made of the potential contribution of students with a qualification in Design and Technology GCSE to filling the skills gap in engineering.


Answered by
Nick Gibb Portrait
Nick Gibb
This question was answered on 19th June 2018

The design and technology (D&T) GCSE is a useful qualification for those pupils considering a career in engineering. The Department has reformed the D&T GCSE to ensure that it is a valuable qualification and includes the knowledge and skills sought by leading employers. Content has been aligned with high-tech industry practice with strengthened technical, mathematical and scienctific knowledge.

Both Which? and the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service advice on A level choices and degree entry requirements state that an A level qualification in mathematics is essential for any area of engineering, with many universities requiring, or preferring, a second A level in Physics as well.

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