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This film was shot and edited by the Epsom College Film Production Club.

Epsom CollegeCo-educational 13-18 Boarding and Day School

Design Technology

Head of Department: Abi Wickham. Email: amrw@epsomcollege.org.uk

 

"Every single thing that has been made by man or woman has been designed."

Terence Conran

Design Technology has evolved from traditional subjects such as woodwork, metalwork and technical drawing to a modern, forward looking subject, which aims to utilise up-to-date technologies to solve the design problems of today, as well as to engineer, design and create the designed world we will live in tomorrow.

Technology has progressed enormously over the past 50 years and is clearly set to continue doing so. From developing materials that can be mass produced into complex shapes, to designing a more sustainable way of living, all of our lives are intricately affected by the vision, innovation and skills of designers, architects and engineers.

Designing is an intelligent activity, which involves considering a wide range of external factors, such as existing designs and designers, aesthetics, ergonomics, sustainability, costs, health and safety, materials, processes, structural integrity and consumer demand.

Design itself comes in many guises and the ability to draw upon areas such as maths, science, technology, communication and art play a crucial role.

GCSE students will have the opportunity to work with a range of materials in a couple of design and make projects in preparation for their main GCSE project. At A level, students will design, manufacture and evaluate their own designs, and, during this process, use computer aided design and manufacture as appropriate. Links with relevant industrial contacts will also be sought. There is also a taught element, which prepares students for the two examined components.

The Design Technology department at Epsom College aims to inspire and empower students to become active participants in designing their own future by giving them the opportunity to learn through both theoretical understanding and experience.

Design Technology suits students who are genuinely curious and interested in the designed world around them and who wish progress to Architecture, Engineering or Design degrees.

Follow the links below to learn more about Design Technology at Epsom College.

 

Courses

Course Outlines from September 2010:

GCSE AQA Design and Technology - Resistant materials Technology 4560

40% 2 hour written paper, consisting of both designing and theory questions.

60% Controlled assessment - Design and Make activity, selected from a choice of set tasks.

 

AQA AS/A2 Design & Technology (Product Design) 5551/6551.

All units have equal weighting.

AS: Unit 1 - examination. 'Materials, Components and Application'

AS: Unit 2 - coursework, which may be either a single design and make project or a portfolio of work.

A2: Unit 3 - examination Design and Manufacture Synoptic paper.

A2: Unit 4 - coursework of a single design and make project.

Department Staff

Head of Department

Abi Wickham B.Ed, M.Ed

 

Department Teaching Staff

Phil Shephard Cert.Ed 

Mike Day B.Ed

Ian Winmill B.Sc. (part time with ICT and electronics)

 

Department Technicians

Graham Bowler (full time)

Claire Lovett (part time)

Facilities

Two fully networked design suites

1 large workshop area with hot work area

1 smaller project workshop

1 CNC workshop

Machine room (no pupil access)

Storage and display areas

 

Machinery/equipment

CNC machines

Denford router

Unimatic router

Lathe

MIG welder with the capacity to weld mild steel, stainless steel and aluminium.

 

Software

Desk Top Publishing (Serif Page Plus)
Computer Aided Design (Techsoft 2D Design, Pro Desktop v 8 and Pro Engineer)
In addition pupils can use SolidWorks, CorelDRAW and the Focus Software suite

 

The department also has a growing collection of iconic and interesting products, including a selection of seating showing how it has developed through the ages, and a large design book collection.

 Arkwright Scholarships

DT students awarded 2011 Arkwright Scholarships

L6th formers Eric Yau and Matt Chen have been selected from an initial 904 applicants to receive Arkwright Scholarships for Design and Technology in recognition of their achievements and future potential.

For his project, Eric mastered the use of 2D Computer Aided Design software and then put a laser cutter to excellent use to create a desktop tidy, curving the front to give it a sleek, aesthetic design.

Matt worked closely with DT technician Graham Bowler on initial 3D CAD drawings for a guitar design and then took the initiative in creating an unusual guitar body shape, as well as manufacturing the neck himself, including an attractive inlay on the fret board.

Eric was fortunate to be sponsored by the ERA Foundation, while Matt was sponsored by the Reese Foundation.

"Eric and Matt have worked very hard and independently and I am delighted that their commitment has been rewarded with a prestigious, well deserved Arkwright Scholarship," said Abi Wickham, Head of DT.

 

Arkwright Scholarship 2010

L6th former Edmund Peppiatt (pictured) has been awarded an Arkwright Scholarship for Design and Technology. He was selected from an initial 770 applicants to receive one of the prestigious awards after successfully passing the Arkwright aptitude paper demonstrating flair and originality in solving engineering design problems and presenting outstanding GCSE project work to a panel of interviewers earlier in the year.

The selection process culminated in an interview for shortlisted candidates at one of six universities. A team exercise conducted by the university provided the interviewees with an experience of the challenge and excitement of a design or engineering-related career.

Arkwright Scholarships are awarded subject to sponsorship by industry and charitable trusts. Edmund was fortunate to be sponsored by a Director of Lloyd's Register Educational Trust in London.

The Arkwright Trust, founded in 1990, supports young people during their A level studies by awarding £250 a year to assist with the purchase of materials and books, with the student carrying the status of Arkwright Scholar into university. In addition the DT department of the Scholar's school receives £200 per year for two years.

News

DT students visit major exhibitions

An educational trip to London gave a large group of Design Technology students from the 5th and 6th forms the opportunity to visit two major exhibitions.

The 29 young designers, accompanied by DT Department staff, explored innovative ideas and futuristic thinking when they visited the Tramshed 2011 exhibition in Shoreditch in the morning and the Victoria and Albert Museum's major autumn exhibition in the afternoon.

The Tramshed event, part of the London Design Festival, housed a diverse group of exhibitors known for their vibrancy and capacity to innovate, allowing pupils to analyse and interact with well designed and crafted products.

"On hand were a number of designers, who were able to discuss their career paths and pass on advice to our own enthusiastic designers of tomorrow," said Abi Wickham Head of Design Technology.

Having only opened the day before, the Postmodernism: Style and and Subversion 1970-1990 exhibition at the V&A gave the students the opportunity to view some of the very extreme designs and cultural changes that have influenced so many of today's designs.

 

L6 trip to Vitra

The L6th were treated to a tour of the Clerkenwell Vitra showroom on Monday 20th June to kick start their A2 coursework.

Vitra is one of two large companies licenced to produce some of the most well known designed products, such as the Charles and Ray Eames lounge chair as well as the iconic Verner Panton chair.

Pupils gained insight into the styles, use of materials and processes that have influenced furniture production over the past few decades and had the chance to try out a number of products for themselves.

  

U4 trip to Coca-Cola factory

U4 pupils were lucky enough to be shown around the Coca-Cola factory in May. They witnessed injection moulded preforms being blow moulded into bottles for both Sprite and coke bottles.

In addition they were treated to a talk on the history and marketing behind the brand and received a free drink.

  

DT students visit Grand Designs Live exhibition

A group of U4 and L6th form Design Technology students enjoyed an educational trip to London, visiting the Grand Designs Live Exhibition at the ExCel Centre in Docklands.

The aim was to conduct primary research into the types of products and materials that are on the market today as preparation for their GCSE and A2 coursework, whilst taking the opportunity to talk to a wide range of designers and craftsmen and women about their work.

Grand Designs Live is held in conjunction with the Channel 4 TV programme of the same name, which was voted Consumer Show of the Year for contemporary design and technology for the home and garden. It combines cutting-edge design products, interactivity and an eco-friendly message.

"The pupils greatly enjoyed their day out and were particularly enthralled by the 3D televisions that were on display, as well as the range of impressive gadgets," said Abi Wickham, Head of Design Technology.