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Design Technology Department
The Design and Technology Department has been recognised nationally for achieving excellence in a number of areas of the subject. The department is very well resourced and two floors of the building have recently been refurbished. Extensive use is made of the latest technology in the design and production of project work. The department has a good suite of computer controlled machines including a laser cutter. There are two large workshops an excellent suite of textile facilities, a computer room and three additional design and electronics areas.
In Years 7 and 8 all pupils study Textiles, Resistant Materials and Systems and Control. Forms are divided up so that no D&T group exceeds 16 in number. Each of the D&T courses in the first two years is ten weeks in duration and pupils work through a series of design and make exercises. Projects include the design and manufacture of a storage system, mobile phone holder, a programmable robot, an alarm system, a fleece scarf & glove set and a novelty hat for the winter.
In Year 9 the subject becomes optional and at GCSE level there is a choice of studying D&T: Textiles, D&T Resistant Materials and D&T: Systems and Control. The courses are popular and the range of project work produced is very diverse. All options include the production of a major piece of course work and pupils are encouraged to identify problems that they wish to solve rather than working to a theme set by a teacher. The examination results across all of the options are excellent with over 85% of candidates achieving either an A or A* grade.
At advanced level two subjects are offered either D&T: Product Design or D&T:Textiles. Once again the opportunity to pursue a personal interest in some aspect of product design or fashion is catered for through the production of a major piece of coursework at A2 level. The links below to the D&T gallery of project work gives an indication of the range of projects produced at both GCSE and Advanced level.
Both textiles and product design have been recognised as centres of excellence. The department has achieved success in a range of competitions on an annual basis for almost twenty years. This has included competitions such as the Young Engineers for Britain and Young Designers and Innovators. The department has close links with industry and BBT Thermotechnology based in Worcester sponsor a number of pupils through the sixth form and University. The department is the best school in the midlands for obtaining Arkwright scholarships. These national awards are very prestigious and 29 pupils from RGSAO have obtained scholarships over the past 9 years. The Textiles department has been awarded the Good School's Guide award for excellence at A Level, the award is measured by results and the 'wow' factor that the department offers.
RGSAO caters for young people who wish to pursue a career in one of the main areas of design and engineering and working together we can guarantee you excellent examination results.
D J Cotterill
Jo Dutfield