Design & Technology

Oakham's Design and Technology Department is one of the most highly respected in the UK, thanks to its outstanding facilities, staff and, of course, the remarkable work that our pupils create. The Department is located within the Jerwood School of Design, a purpose-built facility that contains cutting edge equipment, including CREO 3.0 CAD software, 3D Rapid Prototype Printers, and an extensive range of CNC machinery.

At Oakham there is a clear and highly enjoyable process through which pupils can become successful designers and engineers.

Design Technology is taught to all pupils from Lower One to Form 3, where they are given the opportunity to explore a range of ‘design and make’ activities, which encourage them to develop skills and knowledge which better equip them to solve real life problems and make use of the equipment and facilities on offer.

Pupils who then go on to study GCSE Design and Technology (an average of 45 per year) have the choice of specialising in to include electronics, resistant materials and textile products.  

Students have further choice on how they want to specialise post-16. A-level Design offers students the chance to develop a broad view of Design and Technology, and to really appreciate the relationship between design, materials, manufacture and marketing. It is more product-focused compared to the International Baccalaureate Design course, which takes a more scientific approach to design.

Students can submit work to ‘The Young Engineer for Britain Awards’. They can also be entered for an Arkwright Scholarship, which is a national award for students who wish to pursue a career in design or engineering.

Students have the opportunity to see different designs in context through field trips to the Design and Science Museums in London in Form 4 and car manufacturers in the UK and abroad in Form 6.

Typical courses that DT students have gone on to study after Oakham include Product Design, Industrial Design, Architecture and Engineering.