The Technology Department

Carol Holford heads up this department and also teaches Home Economics. (Note the new name – we used to be called CDT). Carol has been teaching at Great Walstead since September 2000 and as with all technology teachers, she teaches all pupils from year 3-8 on a carousel basis. Technology also offers activities on Wednesday afternoons for those not doing sport. There are always plenty of takers.

The department endeavours to cover all basic cooking skills, basic nutrition and meal planning with the pupils. The curriculum includes cross-curricular links with Science and Maths and History in particular as food is produced for Tudor, 1940’s and Egyptian days. Home Economics also involves sequencing, following instructions and working in a team and is a pleasant antidote to the academic pressures of other subjects. There is always something to take home and Mr Castle next door in ceramics is always complaining of the delicious smells that pervade the area while he is trying to teach. There is some photographic evidence of what the children produce in the department but no samples!

Avia Guilmant is in charge of design technology within the department and has been at the school 1999. Design Technology is both a visual and kinaesthetic subject, it develops good problem solving skills while allowing students to use their own initiative and work at their own pace. Strong emphasis is placed on recycling and reusing with an understanding of where materials come from. Much of the work produced in her area is to be seen around the school. Ms Guilmant makes full use of the woods especially in the summer and structures appear in amongst the flora and fauna.

James Castle joined the Technology department this year as ceramics teacher, succeeding Mrs Key who has retired. (Note the new name here too!) He has several years experience as a potter working with children and as an art teacher. Having worked alongside Mrs Key previously, he is keen to continue on the solid foundations that she has laid by exhibiting the pupils’ work throughout the school. This work can be found in the display cabinet in the reception area, in the gardens and on walls throughout the school. The Music department has a super mural on the long wall and there is a countryside scene in a corner as one walks towards the atrium. Ceramics is a subject with many cross curricular links particularly in relation to science, mathematics and history, and has many practical uses that can be found all around us in daily life.