Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of including design and technology in the EBacc.

Design and Technology is a subject that can inspire and equip young people for further study and careers in a range of design and engineering fields. Our reform ensures the Design and Technology curriculum and qualifications are aligned with industry practice. The new GCSE and A levels move the subject on from its craft-based roots into a high-tech qualification.

The EBacc has been designed to be limited in its size in order to provide a rigorous academic core whilst leaving space in the curriculum for pupils to study other subjects of their choice. On average, pupils in state-funded schools enter nine GCSEs and equivalent qualifications, rising to more than ten for some pupils. As the EBacc covers up to eight GCSEs, this leaves room for other choices, including Design and Technology.

On 3 November 2015, the Secretary of State for Education launched a public consultation seeking views on the government’s proposals for the implementation of the EBacc. The consultation closed on 29 January 2016 and the Government’s response will be published in due course.