The Technology suite has recently been refurbished and as a result Beechlawn School has a well equipped workshop and planning room for designing and the teaching of concepts.

Key Stage 3 pupils (years 8-10) undertake a course that involves the making of products that have basic technological concepts incorporated in the design. The pupils also input into the decorative design of the product. Assessment is carried out at the end of each medium length project of which the making of the product is one element.

All pupils have the opportunity to work with various types of wood; plastic and metals. They also use a wide range of bench equipment and machine tools such as: drilling machines, bandfacer, scroll saws, polishing machine, brazing hearth and vacuum-former.

During Key Stage 4 all pupils undertake a course that results in external accreditation. This two year course involves the consideration of a design brief, research and development of a proposed idea, the manufacture of a sizable product and the evaluation of the product.

At present we offer accreditation in the Unit Award Scheme through AQA and Entry Level Qualification (ELQ). In line with recent developments in education we are introducing courses in September that are within the Qualification and Credits Framework (QCF) as well as Occupational Studies in Carpentry and Joinery (Level 1 and 2) within the NVQ framework.

Mr H. McGiffin