Design & Technology | Epsom College

Traditional techniques fuse with state-of-the-art equipment in large, purpose-built studios. Design & Technology is where our future designers and engineers first found creative ways to solve real-world problems.

Design & Technology gives our pupils the opportunity to develop practical, spatial and intuitive intelligence. They become critical thinkers, problem solvers and young entrepreneurs. By harnessing practical skills and creative thinking in a variety of materials and technologies, we encourage and support our pupils to think big and design bold.

Our links with industry involve factory tours, presentations from leaders in their field, and access to many of London’s leading exhibitions, galleries, tradeshows and museums. A number of our students have gone on to careers in architecture, product design, gaming and engineering.

Technologically Advanced

The Design & Technology building combines the very latest technology with traditional tools and materials. Whether it’s hand-crafted or cutting edge, computer-aided or spot-welded, our pupils enjoy some of the best-specced studio space of any school in the country.

Our two design studios, two workshops, CNC Suite, Machine Room and Exhibition Display area are equipped with a comprehensive range of traditional and high-tech machinery, including:

  • 40 computers packed with professional software
  • A3 and 3D scanners
  • Wacom Touchscreens
  • Two engineers’ lathes
  • Milling machine
  • Mortise
  • Three pillar drills
  • Wood lathes
  • Hot metals work area
  • Brazing hearths
  • MIG welders
  • Excel router
  • Pewter casting and enamelling kit
  • Laser cutter
  • Unimatic router
  • Plastics forming equipment
  • Roland CAMM vinyl cutter
  • Large circular saw
  • Planer thicknesser
  • Table router

Academic Study

From Year 7 to Year 9 all pupils study Design & Technology through small project work. They design and build torches, bug hotels, storage boxes and MP3 speaker docks. They learn pewter casting, CAD, laser cutting, dovetail jointwork, and a range of other skills and processes. All of which builds confidence in the workshop, develops theoretical knowledge in the classroom, and readies pupils for the challenge and fulfilment of GCSE and A-levels.

The GCSE and A-level programme develops pupils’ ability to design and build prototypes that solve real-world problems. We focus on the origin and quality of ideas, paying attention to form, function, user needs and sustainability. Students work individually, and within groups, producing work that is often award-winning and market-ready.

In 2019, the last externally-moderated exams sat in the UK, 80% of our GCSE pupils achieved grades 9-7, with 92% gaining 9-6. 80% of A-level students achieved A-A*.

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STEM Electric Race Cars

As part of our co-curricular STEM offering, where Design & Technology combines with Science, Maths and Computer Science, our pupils have designed and built battery-powered electric racecars to compete at Goodwood Race Course.

Pitting their wits against schools, colleges and universities from around the UK, our pupils designed and constructed the chassis, bodywork, drive chain and electrical control systems. They raced in practice sessions around the College grounds, and then modified and refined their designs further.

On race day, our Sixth Form team finished fifth out of a field of 30; with our Year 10 & 11 team coming 18th.