The week kicked off with a series of D&T skills building community workshops with nearly 40 parents and students attending to take part in some exciting workshops with their child. Workshops included a digital design masterclass, a galaxy doughnut making workshop and resin jewellery making. Places were quickly snapped up and there was a great turn out for all workshops which gave parents and families an opportunity to spend time with their child as well as learn some new skills and make something to take away with them.

Later in the week, year 9 and 10 GCSE D&T students got an opportunity to get a taster of FE & HE with Newbury College with a graphic design and textile design workshop. The graphic design workshop had a focus on developing students’ understanding of how to come up with a graphic design and how they present their ideas through a graphical representation, before moving on to developing their digital design skills and presenting their ideas using Adobe design suite. The textile workshop had a focus on sustainability and using natural dyes in fabrics. The session gave students an insight into the benefits of using natural dyes rather than chemically produced dyes, particularly with fast fashion items and the impact that these can have on the environment. The students also learnt how technical dyeing can be and discovered some of the benefits that natural dyes can have in clothing such as UV protection and anti-bacterial properties. Both workshops were extremely beneficial for the students going into their GCSEs and developed key skills and knowledge needed when they get onto completing their coursework.

The biggest event and main highlight of the week was a visit from Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service who hosted a design and engineering workshop with students. A local Newbury team and Robert Read, Research and Equipment Officer for RBFRS, came along to deliver an exciting hands-on session that looked at equipment and fire engine design as well as giving students an insight into how firefighters uniform is designed and materials used to keep them protected. Students were also inspired by learning about the modern day technology used by the fire service and got to have a go at using thermal imaging camera technology. The Newbury team were also able to bring along a fire engine, which students had a great time exploring and hearing from the crew about how the engine is designed to meet their needs and made in a way to make equipment easy to access and the engine easy to use in emergency situations. Students also learnt about livery design and why Battenberg design and certain colours are used on the engine design. Mr Anderson, Head of D&T said, “We really wanted to get students inspired by real world design and technology and see how what they are learning in the classroom translates into exciting real world contexts”.

Teaching and support staff across the school were also greatly involved in the week, including in our Great Staff Bake Off. Staff worked in teams to try and bake their way to be crowned Bake Off winners, which saw staff produce a range of delicious pasties. Year 8 students eagerly watched contestants throughout the competition and cheered them on to try and bake to a win!

Some of our GCSE catering students also got to take part in a special workshop in preparation for their Young Chef of the Year entry into this year’s competition. The session focused on developing the students’ cooking and presentation skills to ensure they are up to scratch as well as trialling out some potential dishes for their entry.

On Thursday lunchtime, sixth form students and staff participated in a waiter race on the Astroturf which saw teams competing to get from one side of the pitch to the other in the quickest time with a tray of food and drink, but – whilst also navigating a tricky obstacle course. With a focus on communication and team work, Dragon house were victorious against some stiff competition from the other competitors.