Overview

The Technology Department is housed in the purpose built Christopher Smith Building which it shares with the IT Department. There are two main workshops, engineering and woodwork, two classrooms and a large display/teaching area. This gives ample space for the manufacture of a wide range of practical projects from crop sprayers to jewellery boxes.

After studying Technology pupils have gone to study a wide variety of engineering and design disciplines including architecture, civil engineering, product design, fashion design and ship design.

Technology is a dynamic subject and the department reflects this by introducing new manufacturing techniques and materials. The department's computing facilities are being constantly upgraded to keep abreast of developments.

Courses

All the 3^rd form have two periods of Technology per week and in this year they study product design, systems & control and project manufacture.

The department offers three GCSEs: Resistant Materials (Edexcel), Graphic Products (Edexcel) and Electronics (OCR) and two A-levels, Product Design and Graphics (both Edexcel). A large element of both the GCSE and A-level courses is project design and construction. To help the pupils in this the department is open extensively outside the lesson time including evenings and weekends.

Since adopting the present course structure, the department prides itself on a pass rate of over 95% at GCSE and of 100% at A Level.

Staff

Mr Alasdair Purdie (Head of Department) B.Ed.
Alasdair joined the college in 1992. He is a residential tutor in Skrine's, coaches rugby and hockey, manages the junior tennis team and is the staff representative on the OG committee.

Dr Bill Bain B.A.(Hons) , M.A. ,P.G.C.E. , Ph.D
Bill joined the college in 2001 as a Physics teacher and in 2003 he transferred to teach Technology, specialising in electronics though he also teaches A-level mathematics. He is a residential tutor in Reid's, coaches senior rugby, organises the Munro Club, is an officer in the CCF and helps run the shooting.

Mr Nick McNally Technician
Nick joined the department in 2003 after one year on the College maintenance staff. After spending 25 years in the Royal Navy. Nick finally retired in 1994 from the RNR with the rank of Lieutenant Commander.

News

Recent departmental purchases have included

• Full class set of Mindstorms robotics kits and software
• SolidWorks 3D CAD software
• Wide drum sander
• CNC vinyl cutter
• Metal bending station
• UV PCB developing station

Funding application for a Denford CNC vertical router is proceeding, and a decision is anticipated next term.