The Design Technology Department is exciting, vibrant and innovative and has a reputation that is the envy of other prep schools. Children from Year Three onwards are presented with a wide range of design problems, which are solved using various materials including wood, metal, plastics and electronic components. A specialist teacher, supported by a technician, teaches the subject in a well-equipped workshop. Pupils are taught to use a comprehensive range of hand and machine tools, ranging from lathes to CAD/CAM milling and vinyl cutting machines. There is also a computer control lab for CAD and computer control teaching.

 

The Department has been highly successful for a number of years in both national and international competitions. These include the BBC TV Technogames, the Wood for Good Competition, the Toyota Technology Challenge and Young Engineers Club of the Year. We have an Eco Marathon Team, which has been the top school team in the country in four out of the last five years in the prestigious Shell Eco Marathon. Here the children have designed and built a car, which has done a remarkable 1,984 miles per gallon. They are currently working on a new, improved car.

 

Design Technology is extremely popular with pupils as it gives them an opportunity to apply topics learnt in Maths and Science and put the theory into practice. They love the challenge of thinking through problems and manufacturing unique products to their own design.