Now Design and Technology as a subject is no longer compulsory it is harder to convince students to take it up as an option. They perceive engineering as difficult and still think of careers in the sector as “dirty”.  To combat this perception Gateway to Skills brought together for the first time Design & Technology teachers from right across the borough; they used their different expertise to give the students on the verge of taking their options a taste of what the subject is really like.

During the day the students had a chance to design and make a piece of jewellery  and to produce the packaging to go with it using the state of the art computer aided design, laser cutting and pewter casting techniques.. All the designs were the students own work and everyone took their “manufactured” product away with them. The event was a roaring success as in a poll taken on the day, 80% of the students said they were now considering design and technology as a GCSE  option.

Mr Hillman - Deputy Faculty Head of Technology, ICT and Business Studies at Gaynes School and Language College  was delighted that his students were able to benefit from the experience: “It is hard for the students to make decisions when they have not experienced what it is all about. The taster day has helped bring technology from the future into their lives and to give them the information to make informed choices about their career paths, the more knowledge they have the more informed and effective their choices will be.”

The students also welcomed the chance to gain first hand experience of what they might be studying “I wasn’t sure whether to take design and Technology or not as I thought it might be dull, but now I have seen how much design is involved I think it would be a fab option” Jemma Hampton year 9.

“The day has been really interesting and helpful and given me another chance to look at Engineering as an option. I am beginning to consider it seriously now.” Mark Davis year 9. For more information about the stunning new Gateway to Skills centre and the work it carries out please contact: Debbie Wren Project Manager of Gateway to Skills, tel 020 8596 7032, email Debbie Wren