Hands-On DT Summer Camp

For the third year running we ran our popular design technology summer camp, led by design technology teacher, Mr Tom Bayley.

A group of pupils from the College and a range of other schools learnt skills in manufacturing, Computer Aid Design, electronics and model making.

They designed and built a variety of different products including bottle rockets, motor speed boats, Viking boxes, glass vases, bagatelle games and many more! The different tasks enabled the pupils to take home their innovative projects, so that their learning and fun could continue at home.

Pupils used our well-equipped workshop under the professional guidance of our DT staff. The week enabled the pupils to learn and introduce new skills or develop their existing ones, to create their different projects.

Motor speed boats and Viking gift boxes were the real highlights of the camp, with both projects being added to throughout the course of the week.

The pupils created their design and shape of the boat, then tested different materials to see which would keep their boat afloat. Next, pupils had to work out which motor they wanted, making sure it wouldn't be too heavy to sink the boat! At the end of the week, the speed boats were tested out in our swimming pool, with a race to see which boat would make the other side first, or the boat that would sink last!

The Viking boxes also started to take shape on the first day, constructed with pine and man-made board. The sides of the box were joined using finger joints, which required pupils to use their mathematics skills for measuring and the use of new marking tools. Pupils had the opportunity to 'burn' down their boxes so they looked similar to something that would be made by Vikings, as well as the use of the exciting laser cutting machine to put their own personalise touch to their box.

A huge thanks goes to Mr Bayley for co-ordinating and running the camp, who states his highlight from the course was 'seeing the pupils grow in confidence throughout the week and embrace the different challenges they were set.'