Design & Technology

This year's A2 candidates were the first cohort undertaking a new specification; their results were promising with a 100% pass rate. Once again, the Examination Board praised the clarity of students' design folios, the diversity of coursework projects and the clear evidence of student commitment to furthering their experiences in Product Design and understanding of the complex relations between design, manufacture and marketing.

Our targets are to increase the number of students opting for the subject, to ensure all students achieve results displaying positive added value and to ensure 100% retention rate from AS to A2. GCSE results were very pleasing with 100% pass rate at grades A* to C and over 30% of students achieving A and A* grades. Our targets are to increase the percentage of students achieving the top grades and to continue to increase the number of pupils opting for this subject.

Once again we fielded three teams for the British Aerospace / Rotary Club Young Technologist Tournament. This year, for the first time, we also entered a team for the Toyota Technology Challenge; a very exciting period of developing ideas and prototypes culminated in our invitation to the North of England regional final at Leeds University. Our students' efforts against far older teams was rewarded with a runner-up place.

Towards the end of the year, we acquired a laser cutter and associated software, enabling us to enhance the students' experience of commercial production and facilitate the rapid realisation of more complex design ideas. Departmental facilities continue to be well used by students as an extra-curricular activity and our aim is to increase participation in lunchtime and after school use of these facilities.