Oundle School
Design and Technology
Head of Department: Mr. C.D. Humphreys
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The Design and Technology department is housed in three buildings collectively known as the Patrick Centre (after Alex Patrick OO). The main body of the department is centred in two of the buildings, providing large interconnecting workshops and fabrication space with teaching areas and features:
• A machine shop equipped with manual and CNC engineering lathes/manual
and CNC milling machines.
• A hot metal area for casting, a forge and hearths for braising and
soldering.
• Woodturning lathes and benches
• A CAD/CAM room with four CAD/CAM routers and dedicated computers with
specialised industrial software to integrate IT skills into all aspects of
design and manufacture
• Jewellery spaces
• Computer room
• A large dedicated welding area.
The third building contains a second computer room, two design studios and a microelectronics lab. All the areas are well equipped with hand tools and are maintained by three qualified technicians.
Recent pupil successes include a winner of a very prestigious Arkwright Scholarship.
A Stuart Pugh prize winner, an important national competition awarded by the
Institute of Designer Engineers and Gold awards from the CREST award scheme.
The department offers the pupils the time space and skills outside the curriculum
to develop their individual paths with activities as varied as jewellery making,
woodturning, off-road go-carts, hovercraft and the manufacture of fully road
legal cars.
The School offers two Scholarships for Design and Technology, one at 13-plus and one at 16-plus.
The department is staffed by:
Mr B. Dayment BA
Mr C.D. Humphreys BA (Freeman of the City of London)
Mr O. Jervis (C & G MechEng)
Mr R. Johnson (C & G)
Mr R.H. Lowndes Bsc MEng
Mr B.J. Rutter DMS HND
Mr D Vincent (Capet Technology)
Course content
The department prides itself on the high standards expected and achieved by the pupils working in the department. It is a compulsory subject for all pupils in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd forms where they follow a course designed to progressively introduce skills in making and designing using resistant materials with individual outcomes that boost self-confidence, self-esteem and team work. The subject then becomes an optional choice in the 4th form.
GCSE
We currently follow the OCR Resistant Materials specification. There is an emphasis on individual creative problem solving and the communication of ideas through a practical outcome.
AS and A2
We follow the Edexcel Resistant Materials course at this level. For further details of course content, and pattern of assessment, follow this link. Where the progression continues providing an opportunity to further develop creativity and problem solving ability and apply a greater understanding of technologies involved in designing. The course is designed to help pupils recognise and raise awareness of the social responsibilities involved in the work of designers and engineers by the solving of design problems through the making of projects that encourage individual flair and use of imagination.