Design Technology
Head of Department: Graeme Macpherson-Smith
Staff
Neil Athey, Peter Johns, Anna Bell, Graham Mitchell, Roger Lapidge
Design and Technology is a well-established feature of the Haileybury curriculum and has been a I/GCSE option since 1988. The Department occupies a modern, purpose-built space on a site adjacent to the Science laboratories. The Technology building, opened in 1999, is a spectacular construction and provides scope for graphic, control and computing work, computer-aided design and manufacture.
The subject has always been popular at Haileybury and the existence of the Technology Centre has further increased the take-up of the subject and the success of our pupils. In the most recent A2 examinations, 75% of candidates achieved A-B grades. At GCSE level, a 93% A-C pass rate was achieved across the two courses (DT follows an IGCSE curriculum after 2012). An average 5.5 points were gained in the DT IB results in 2012.
The current courses on offer reflect the co-educational ethos of the School, with a Resistant Materials option now offered in addition to Graphics and Systems & Control at IGCSE. A Product Design course is offered at AS/A2 level and suits those who wish to pursue graphic design, a resistant materials avenue or a systems option programme. Since September 2002 the Department has also offered an IB Diploma in Design & Technology at both Higher and Standard Level. There is a healthy mix of girls and boys studying the subject at all levels.
The Department participates in a number of regional and national programmes, including the Go4SET and EES engineering schemes, in addition to the Audi and Rotary Club design challenges and our pupils have enjoyed a good deal of success in recent years. We also host our own regular Prep and Primary Schools' Challenge that has led to some joint projects with several of these schools.
The Department is proud of the achievements of a number of pupils in the nationally recognised Arkwright Scholarship awards and we regularly boast at least two scholars in each of the two Sixth Form years each year. This year we added three new Arkwright Scholars, bringing the total for this academic year to five.
Scholarships at entry at 13+ (Removes) or at 16+ (Lower Sixth) are awarded to outstanding candidates. For further details about Scholarships please visit the Admissions pages.
