Teacher of Design & Technology (Product Design & Engineering)

Location: Tower Hamlets, East/Inner London

School Type: Secondary School & Sixth Form (Co-educational)

Contract: Full-Time, Permanent or Fixed-Term

Start Date: January Start

A creative, tech-forward secondary school and Sixth Form in the heart of Tower Hamlets is looking for an inventive, safety-conscious, and dynamic Teacher of Design & Technology to join their vibrant Applied Arts & STEM team starting in January. This is a fantastic opportunity for a dedicated design practitioner, whether an experienced educator looking to drive high-level technical outcomes or an ambitious Early Career Teacher (ECT), to inspire hands-on craft, sustainable engineering, and digital prototyping across a diverse student body.

About the Role

As a Teacher of Design & Technology, you will ignite students' passion for solving real-world design problems using timber, polymers, metals, and smart materials. Joining the department for the spring term, you will deliver engaging workshop sessions and CAD/CAM practical lessons across Key Stage 3, Key Stage 4 (GCSE Design & Technology / Product Design), and Key Stage 5 (A-Level / BTEC Engineering), guiding pupils from initial ideation to finished functional prototypes.

• Start Date: January

• Environment: A modern Inner London secondary school featuring dedicated 3D printing labs, laser cutting suites, traditional wood/metal workshops, and strong links to London’s design and architecture hubs

• Culture: A highly collaborative department supported by a dedicated D&T technician, shared digital schemes of learning, robust workshop safety frameworks, and progressive leadership

Key Responsibilities

• Plan and deliver academically rich, practical D&T lessons across Key Stages 3, 4, and 5 that combine 2D/3D design skills, material manipulation, structural mechanics, and digital manufacture (CAD/CAM).

• Guide GCSE and A-Level candidates through non-examined assessments (NEA coursework portfolios) and exam theory modules using data-driven progress tracking and diagnostic portfolio feedback.

• Maintain strict workshop health and safety standards (COSHH, CLEAPSS, and risk assessment protocols), fostering a safe, clean, and disciplined practical learning environment.

• Monitor, track, and evaluate student progress, scaffolding foundational skills for developing makers while challenging high-aspiring pupils with complex engineering and design tasks.

• Contribute positively to departmental enrichment, including student design expos, robotics teams, eco-design sustainability projects, and university engineering pathways.

Requirements

• Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) or an equivalent recognized teaching credential.

• A strong academic degree in Design & Technology, Product Design, Mechanical/Materials Engineering, Architecture, or a closely related discipline.

• Demonstrated experience or strong capability delivering high-quality D&T teaching across Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 (KS5 Product Design/Engineering experience is highly desirable).

• In-depth knowledge of national D&T examination board specifications (e.g., AQA, Edexcel, OCR) and proficiency with 2D/3D CAD software (e.g., Fusion 360, SolidWorks, 2D Design).

• Superior workshop presence, strong technical skills across manual tools and machine equipment, and an infectious enthusiasm for innovation and design thinking.

Salary & Benefits

• Pay Scale: Inner London Main / Upper Pay Scale (MPS/UPS Inner London, commensurate with experience), with potential TLR opportunities available for Workshop Safety Lead or STEM Project Coordination.

• Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS), continuous professional development (CPD), structured onboarding for a seamless January transition, and access to staff health and wellbeing schemes.

How to Apply

If you are an energetic, creative D&T specialist eager to shape the next generation of engineers, designers, and innovators starting this January at a dynamic secondary school in Tower Hamlets, we invite you to apply. Please submit your application as soon as possible for consideration.