About Us
‘Design is a fundamental human activity, relevant and useful to everyone’ Maggie Macnab
Our Ethos & Aim
We seek to deliver an education based around critical thinking, creativity and problem solving.
‘Design’ by nature is a very broad topic and whenever you stop studying in Year 9 or continue on to Year 13 we want you to learn to be critical, creative and considered about the world around you.
We aim to do this through practical and hands on learning as much as possible, often through longer project based challenges that we set you.
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We want to inspire creativity, innovation and change so that you can make the world a better place. Good, well considered and thoughtful design, whether a product or a system, is critical for this.
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The Teachers
Miss Green
HEAD OF DESIGN
Industrial Designer by trade who has dabbled in graphic design and has a penchant for typography. Most likely to find her analysing the Farrow & Ball colour chart.
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Expertise: Usability, Aesthetics, Graphics, Brands.
Favourite Designer: Ray Eames / Margaret Calvert
Favourite Tool: Ruler
Favourite Machine: 3D printer
Favourite Material: Oak
Ms Whyte
2ND IN DESIGN
Artist by trade specialising in screen printing, she has showcased her work across Europe. Most likely to find her relaxing solo with a cup of tea in her garden.
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Expertise: Textiles, Sewing, Prototyping, Graphics.
Favourite Designer: Charlotte Perriand
Favourite Tool: Screwdriver
Favourite Machine: Sewing Machine
Favourite Material: Paper
Ms Selby
A professional and successful silversmith who is in her element around the brazing hearth. Most likely to find her pimping her bicycle and arguing the merits of a steel frame!
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Expertise: Metalworking, Technical Materials knowledge
Favourite Designer: Anna Maria Benova
Favourite Tool: Pliers
Favourite Machine: The brazing hearth
Favourite Material: Steel
Mr Creak
F1 IN SCHOOL LEAD
Product designer with a passion for carpentry. Knows his way around any workshop and has an extraordinary knowledge of the DeWalt product range. Most likely to find him paddleboarding down the Thames.
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Expertise: Woodworking, Box making, Onshape, 3D printing
Favourite Designer: Massimo Tamburini
Favourite Tool: Nokogiri
Favourite Machine: Router
Favourite Material: All woods (don't ask him to pick, he loves them all)
Ms Snooks
HEAD OF YEAR 10
Industrial designer with an engineers mindset. Loves mathematical challenges and researching future technologies. Most likely to find her reading the latest edition of 'Aeroplane' magazine.
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Expertise: Engineering, Onshape, 3D printing, Fusion 360.
Favourite Designer: Creola Katherine Johnson
Favourite Tool: Callipers
Favourite Machine: Lathe
Favourite Material: Aluminium
Mr Whitfield
An industrial designer whose love for toys meant he started his career as a toy designer for Disney. He loves a quiz and will have a plethora or random facts to share with you. Most likely to be binge watching 'how to..' videos on youtube.
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Expertise: Sketching, Prototyping, Engines, Sheds
Favourite Designer: Alec Issigonis
Favourite Tool: Stanley Knife
Favourite Machine: Mitre saw
Favourite Material: Plywood
Mr Gold aka 'The Technician'
The most important man in the department. He is a critical and essential help to all of your teachers and to you. He knows where everything is and how to use it. He is always happy to help (even though sometimes he pretends he isn't).
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Expertise: Everything - but he currently LOVES wood turning
Favourite Designer: Alexandra Graham Bell
Favourite Tool: Chisel
Favourite Machine: Wood lathe
Favourite Material: All woods -he likes to define the type by its smell
