The Creative Design Department at All Hallows is celebrating its greatest pupil achievement since opening four years ago, with four students being awarded CDT scholarships to Millfield, Kings Bruton and Marlborough College.
Edward, Tia, Cecily and Sam each produced an A3 Design Portfolio of graphical work as well as numerous three dimensional products and prototypes. This work was then presented to their secondary schools where candidates were called in for interviews, a design challenge day and an assessment on their creative designing and making skills. This required a lot of skill, hard work and determination.
The portfolio work produced by the students covered many areas including Architecture, Furniture Design, Lighting, Electronics and Creative Problem Solving; much of it was at top GCSE level in terms of its quality, as was noted by the schools they applied to.
Berin Nelson, head of creative design, commented: “I would like to to congratulate Ed, Tia, Cecily and Sam on their individual achievements and have appreciated the hard work they have put in over many years, both in lessons, clubs and in their own time to reach such a high standard and wish them the very best for their future studies. I look forward to seeing what products they will create for their GCSE projects and beyond!” said Mr Nelson.
Edward moves on to Millfield, Tia to King’s Bruton and Cecily and Sam were given the only two Design and Technology Scholarship awards that were offered by Marlborough College. This brings the total number of scholarships and awards gained by Year 8 pupils at All Hallows this year to 42 – an incredible achievement from a cohort of 39 pupils.
The growth in the creative industries has substantially outperformed that the UK economy in recent years and the school is doing its very best to prepare their children in this fast changing world. Its Creative Design Centre, opened in 2014, is a hub of innovation, inspiration and dynamism. All children from Nursery upwards are taught design skills, and as they move up through the school they develop more complex projects, culminating in a roller coaster challenge in Year 8.