Technology for Girls

Abstract

The following account was written as a piece of course-work for the Technology teaching-methods component in the Keele post-graduate education course; it describes the student's experience with a group of fourth-year school-leaving girls in a Staffordshire comprehensive school.

At full strength the class numbered eight girls only, but because several of the girls were frequently away from school the class averaged six. The girls were all fourth year leavers and supposedly of 'low ability'. Amongst many of the staff the two classes from which the eight girls came had a reputation for 'being difficult' and once branded the classes seemed to feel obliged to 'act the part'.