There is a strong resonance between the Young Foresight methodology and the National Strategy for D&T at KS3. The National Strategy for D&T at KS3 identifies 10 important features that teachers can use to enhance the impact of their teaching with special reference to designing. The Young Foresight resources and approach have strong affinity with each of them.

Here are just four examples.

Starter activities that engage pupils so that they are motivated and can persevere in meeting the challenges of designing are an important ingredient of design & technology pedagogy. They are used throughout the Young Foresight programme. The introductory programme teaches several techniques that can be used as starter activities - PIES approach to needs and wants, considering trends, creativity techniques, and product and service evaluation. Specially made television programmes that introduce pupils to new and emerging technologies provide highly stimulating starter activities by asking pupils to consider what they themselves would use the technologies for. The Young Foresight ‘tetrahedron’ gives four different starting points for designing – the technology, people’s needs, society’s concerns and potential markets.

Good questioning is seen as an essential way of developing and revealing pupils’ understanding. The use of questions is promoted throughout Young Foresight. It receives a detailed treatment in the teacher handbook as an important strategy and the lesson notes for each activity in the introductory programme give specific guidance on how to use questions.

Collaboration is seen as an essential ingredient for most designing outside school. Thinking together when designing is a fundamental requirement of Young Foresight. Pupils become familiar with collaborative learning through the discussion activities in the introductory programme. This prepares them for the use of collaboration as the major means of developing sound design proposals when they are designing products and services for the future.

Plenary sessions at the end of lessons are an integral part of the KS3 strategy across all subjects. Their intent is to consolidate the learning that has taken place. And of course they are used throughout the Young Foresight programme. Each of the lessons associated with the introductory programme concludes with a Connecting their thinking” session that helps pupils see connections between the ideas in that particular lesson previous lessons. Plenary sessions take place automatically when groups of pupils present their design ideas for products and services for the future to the rest of the class.

David Barlex made a presentation to the Key Stage 3 D&T Strategy consultants in April. He is now working with Jackie Price, the Regional Director Foundation Subjects: D&T pilot, to find ways in which some Young Foresight materials can be included in the KS3 D&T Strategy publication.