Ashfield School - A Technology College | www.ashfield.notts.sch.uk

"Ashfield + Designer = Designer Ashfield"
How having a Designer in Residence has had a positive impact on student design work at Ashfield School

Ashfield School is a large comprehensive school outside Nottingham, serving the towns of Kirkby-in-Ashfield and Sutton-in-Ashfield. The number of students on role is approximately 2500, and their age range is 11-18. Ashfield School gained Technology College status in September 1998, and in 2000 Ashfield became a Training School.

Traditionally, there has only ever been small numbers of students opting to study Design and Technology after GCSE. Small groups make teaching difficult. There is a lack of 'buzz', and it is the students (not the staff) that dictate the pace of work.

Design and Technology needed promoting and a change of image. Adopting a 'design' approach to the way in which the subject was taught meant that the projects could be aimed directly at the students' interests and culture. It would help them see a relevance to the work. By encouraging the use of imagination and value in ideas, students have become more confident and expressive. Every opportunity to showcase good examples of design is found within the schemes of work; and so it seemed a natural progression to employ a practicing designer, to illustrate how 'real' design work evolves.

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