Sarah McGoldrick

About 

• Sarah is an experienced Design & Technology educator with 20 years of experience across primary and secondary education, teacher training and educational content creation. She is currently a Lecturer in Education and Course Leader for the Secondary PGCE Design and Technology course at Sheffield Hallam University, where she supports the development of the next generation of D&T teachers. 

• Sarah spent 17 years teaching Design & Technology across KS3-5, including as an Assistant Head of Department and feedback and assessment lead. Alongside her classroom experience, she has created curriculum-aligned educational content for Oak National Academy and The Design and Technology Association, including lessons, resources, assessments and instructional videos. 

• Sarah also worked with the Maker {Futures} team at the University of Sheffield's School of Education, supporting the Maker {School} programme. She delivered makerspace workshops and teacher training in practical making, electronics, coding, digital literacy, design and fabrication, while also supporting inclusive approaches for specialist SEND settings. 

• Sarah's expertise spans Design & Technology, design thinking, materials and manufacturing, practical making and digital design and fabrication. She is passionate about making learning accessible and helping students connect D&T knowledge to real products, processes and the world around them. 

• Outside of work Sarah is a big sports fan, especially football. She plays football, goes to the gym and is currently training for a half marathon.  

Published works or mentions 

• Sarah has created educational content for Oak National Academy and The Design and Technology Association, producing curriculum-aligned lessons, resources, assessments and instructional content for Design & Technology. 

• Through her work at the University of Sheffield's School of Education, Sarah contributed to the Maker {School} programme, supporting schools and teachers through makerspace education, practical skills, emerging technologies and digital fabrication. 

• Sarah has developed and shared educational resources and online skills libraries to support teachers and schools in developing practical and digital making skills. 

Education 

• Sarah graduated from Sheffield Hallam University with a BA (Hons) in Product Design, developing a strong foundation in design, materials, manufacture and creative problem-solving. 

• Sarah completed her PGCE in Secondary Design & Technology before beginning her career teaching D&T in secondary education. 

• Sarah was awarded a Distinction in her PGCert in Designing for the Learning Environment at the University of Birmingham, further developing her understanding of pedagogy and the design of effective learning environments. 

Expertise 

Sarah combines extensive classroom experience with specialist knowledge across GCSE Design & Technology, product design, materials and manufacturing, design thinking, practical making and digital design and fabrication, including woodwork, CAD, CNC machining, laser cutting and 3D printing. 

Her experience in curriculum development, assessment and educational content creation enables her to translate complex D&T knowledge into accurate, accessible and engaging learning materials. 

Sarah also brings expertise in makerspace education, emerging technologies and inclusive learning, alongside her current work in teacher education, mentoring and developing future D&T teachers. 

Top revision quote for students 

"Don't just try to memorise D&T facts in isolation. Look at how the knowledge applies to real products, materials and situations. Making those connections can help you understand design and technology rather than simply remember it."