Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book is for all teachers of design and technology working with Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 pupils. It will be relevant to teachers working within the full spectrum of schools, from highly selective establishments to comprehensive and secondary modern schools as well as some special schools. The book provides a practical resource that heads of department, gifted and talented coordinators and classroom teachers can use to develop a coherent approach to provision for their most able pupils. School populations differ greatly and pupils considered very able in one setting might not stand out in another. Nevertheless, whatever the general level of ability within a school, there has been a tendency to plan and provide for the middle range, to modify for those who are struggling and to leave the most able to ‘get on with it’.