A-Level Design and Technology at East Barnet School

Abstract

East Barnet School is an 11-18 comprehensive situated on the margin of London's Green Belt. It is a 6 form entry, split site school, with the 1st to 3rd year pupils housed in the Lower School which is approximately one mile away from the Upper School, where the 4th, 5th and 6th year pupils concentrate mainly upon examination subjects.

In 1972 the Technical Studies Department offered non-examination courses in woodwork and metalwork. The arrival of Andrew Breckon as Head of Department in September 1974 was to have an enormous impact on the department and the school. His first task was to make the various groups concerned with the school, the headmaster and senior teachers, the pupils and their parents and the rest of the teaching staff, aware of the potential and educational qualities of a relatively new, design based approach to 'Technical Studies', and the possibility of offering courses suitable for the whole ability range.