Design & Technology Teacher

Design & Technology Teacher at Denstone College (Full time)

The School is looking to appoint an inspirational individual to join an enthusiastic and passionate team in the Design & Technology Department from September. D&T is housed with Art in a self-contained building that has a mix of workshops, classrooms, storage and gallery space. We are nicely located next to our superbly equipped computer suites, which are used extensively across all age groups. We have a range of traditional and CNC machinery (router, laser, vinyl cutter, milling and 3D printers) and hope to get a balance of use across all of our years. We have three full time teachers and a technician. The teachers have a wealth of industrial and practical experience across many areas of design and bring a mix of youth and experience to the department.

All Lower School pupils (Years 7,8 & 9) study the subject, having either one or two forty-minute periods a week. They take part in foundation projects, using all types of resistant material, as well as learning CAD, looking at modern materials and technologies and learning about how design affects the real world. We see ourselves as innovators and hope to give our younger pupils a thirst for the subject.

At examination level we follow the AQA specifications with Product Design at A Level. We are a popular and successful subject at this level, with 67% of entries gaining an A*/A grade in 2022. A good number of our Sixth Form students go off to study Design and Engineering-based courses each year. We are also popular for students wishing to study Architecture, Interior Design, Automotive Design and other related courses. Of course, we also get plenty of students taking the subject because they enjoy it and see it as something they can really succeed at. Results at GCSE level are equally impressive, with 68% of candidates achieving grade 7 or above in 2022. DT is amongst the highest value-added subjects in the College at GCSE level.

We have many successful designers and engineers in our alumni, and it is always great to see them when they come back to talk to our current students about their careers and opportunities beyond Denstone. We frequently have pupils achieving Arkwright Engineering Scholarships into the Sixth Form, have had great success with the Young Innovator Competition and have also gained an award for being best of any secondary school in country for girls' results. We also offer our own internal scholarships, where we are looking for potential and passion. We love our subject and hope that we can develop this love in our pupils.

The successful candidate will be expected to enhance the profile and enjoyment of Design and Technology. They will be passionate and enthusiastic about teaching pupils of all ages. They will place a particular importance on achieving the best possible results in external examinations and maximising the potential and enjoyment of each student in the subject. To

achieve this, the successful candidate will need the broad and thorough subject knowledge required to teach the subject through to GCSE and, ideally, A Level as well.

Design & Technology is offered to our exam classes as an additional activity to allow for additional workshop time. We would also welcome applicants that can offer alternative design and make activities for those wishing to gain more hands-on experience in the subject.

The position would suit experienced teachers, those seeking a first move or those new to the profession. If invited for interview, candidates may wish to bring a portfolio of pupils’ or their own work.