Philip Holton

About

• Phil has 22 years of dedicated hands on experience of design and technology education, working across the UK education sector in roles spanning primary, secondary, FE, HE, teacher training, resource writing, authoring, thought leadership, advisory board, subject advisor, training, awarding body and independent consultancy. 

• Phil's focus since collaborating with Save My Exams has been to ensure the wide breadth of content within GCSE D&T is accessible to all learners, synthesising topics and aiming for clarity to help students develop the knowledge required to complete their written examination. 

• Phil has been a keen author not only for Save My Exams, but through both resource publication and contributing to the academic research/evolution of D&T pedagogy, which he shares through three D&T focused teacher training programmes within which he provides consultation services. 

• Phil was selected as 1 of 200 Design Council experts, supporting the wider adoption of Green Skills as part of the charity's Skills for Planet mission to upskill 1 million designers by 2030. 

• Phil is highly equipped to shape present and future design and manufacture curriculums, and share his expertise as an consultant, advisor, or volunteer to D&T and STEM based charities, championing everything from robotics to social impact. 

• Phil's ambition is for all of design education to take a responsible and climate centric focus, moving towards greater digital design and accelerated innovation, without impacting the planet, through circular or regenerative principles. 
  

Published works or mentions

• Phil was awarded the D&TA teaching award for Creativity and Innovation, recognising his work to develop ground breaking approaches to D&T that moved the subject beyond traditional craft, design and technology.

• Phil was nominated for the i25 Sims Capita award for curriculum innovation in an independent school setting, in recognition for his work to develop inclusive approaches to D&T.

• Phil has delivered regional and national impact programmes, including the LSEF STEM programme to launch 25 new robotics clubs across London' s most deprived boroughs. 

• Phil has been nominated for the Edufuturists 2026 Award for Sustainability Champion, recognising his work to pioneer responsible design and innovation as a future pathway for D&T education to follow at next reform. 

Education

• Phil graduated from Loughborough University with a BA in Industrial Design and Technology, designing an innovative spirit dispenser as his final year piece.

• Phil has a post-graduate degree in Secondary Design and Technology teaching from Goldsmiths College.

• Phil has a Master's degree in Curriculum Design from Sheffield Hallam University, where his final-year dissertation focused on the integration of 3D printers into D&T education in UK schools. 

Expertise

• As a former educator, Phil is highly versatile at providing curriculum guidance and support, thanks to years of successful curriculum development and delivery. He is also adept at supporting and developing newly qualified or early career teachers in D&T. 

• Phil has been an examiner for AQA, OCR and EdExcel GCSE Resistant Materials, a moderator for OCR GCSE D&T, a principle moderator for OCR A level Design Engineering, and a chair for OCR A level Design Engineering. He was also a contingent subject advisor for OCR. 

Top revision quote for students

• “I believe that often the best way to learn the breadth of D&T content is to find products and contexts to bring the content to life. For example, smart alloys are used for spectacles, and teak is ideal for outdoor garden furniture. If you can think of a product, often what you need to remember about properties, characteristics and processes will follow shortly after.”