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It was fantastic to see our Year 9 students using their design thinking during our recent Enrichment Day. As they stand on the threshold of choosing their GCSE options, we opened...
On Wednesday 18th March, Year 7 students spent the morning of the Enrichment day on a language-focussed session. Led by the MFL teachers and supported by the excellent resources...
Year 12 Photography and Graphic Design PPE On the 9th, 10th, 12th and 13th March, our Year 12 Photography and Graphic Design students completed their first ever PPE, dedicating an...
Lucas – 12 Elm For being a very active member of the form and leading with enthusiasm during the weekly quiz
Name: Georgia House: Maple Reason for nomination: Fantastic behaviour and attitude to learning. Showing a fantastic improvement in her engagement and positive...
Hertfordshire Council and Small Steps would like to invite you to attend a significant and insightful virtual session for parents. This free program aims to foster understanding...
Suryansh Madhivanan A positive role model to others. His generous donations to the food bank show real kindness and community spirit.
Last week at Bushey Meads, we kickstarted our annual vertical tutoring programme! As a school community, we aim to create a kind environment between students regardless of...
Paul Homan – For stepping out of his comfort zone and leading on activities regarding charity competition during the Vertical tutoring.sessions.
Name: Ryley House: Maple Reason for nomination: Fantastic behaviour and attitude to learning. Showing a fantastic improvement in his engagement and positive behaviour in...
It was fantastic to see our Year 9 students using their design thinking during our recent Enrichment Day. As they stand on the threshold of choosing their GCSE options, we opened the doors to the D&T workshop to provide a “sneak peek” into the world of GCSE Design and Technology.
The day was designed to demystify the course structure balancing the technical principles of the written exam with the creative freedom of the Non-Exam Assessment (NEA). However, rather than just talking about design, we got straight into the making!
Students were set a fast-paced “Design Fix” challenge. The brief? Create a functional smartphone stand using only a limited palette of card, paper and art straws.
To succeed, their prototypes had to meet a strict professional specification:
Versatility: Support a device in both portrait and landscape orientations.
Functionality: Feature an integrated access point for a charging cable.
Stability: Hold the weight of a device without collapsing.
The highlight of the sessions wasn’t just the final models, but the “lightbulb moments” that happened in between. Students quickly learned that the first idea is rarely the best one.
We focused heavily on Iterative Design, the process of prototyping, testing, and refining. It was brilliant to see students:
Testing: Placing a phone on their rig and watching where it wobbled.
Evaluating: Identifying that a straw joint was too weak or the base was too narrow.
Adapting: Using triangulation or reinforced card folds to solve the problem.
The variety of solutions was staggering; we saw everything from minimalist geometric frames to complex, reinforced “truss” structures.
This session gave students a genuine taste of the problem solving and resilience required at GCSE level. D&T isn’t just about making products; it’s about identifying a need and engineering a solution that works in the real world.
The energy in the room was electric, and if the quality of these prototypes is anything to go by, the future of British design is in very safe hands.
Mrs Hewitt Design and Technology Teacher
