Technology

Computing

Lessons in Computer Science never stand still, it is what keeps the subject such fun to teach. Innovations in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning are in the tech news all the time, as is the impact on society of using technology brought about by these advances. This year we had a power outage at school for a couple of hours, it made us all stop and think how reliant we are on technology. In the current climate of energy supply issues and price hikes, a potential scenario of scheduled power outages like we had in the 70s would fill most students with horror. However, like all crisis situations, it accelerates the invention and uptake of new technologies.

It is important therefore to graduate students with the desire and abilities to be at the forefront of our next wave. Our Computer Science A Level students finished with an impressive 43% A* and most are off to study Computer related degrees at University, making our small contribution to the numbers required in this subject. They have left their mark on Churcher’s with their contribution to our trophy cabinet, winning the 2021 UK Lockheed Martin Coding Competition Advanced section. Next year’s Upper Sixth have amazingly retained our exalted position winning the 2022 Advanced section, with Ed Jackson, James Restell and Kit Matthewson being awarded two weeks work experience at the Lockheed Martin facility in Whitely. Lockheed Martin came to Churcher’s to present the prize and to deliver a most inspiring lecture on careers which included a fascinating insight into their involvement in the new Top Gun: Maverick film. It was great to once again participate and host events in person and our line-up included a talk on IT Careers by OC Chris Parker OBE, who is involved in the Cyber Security sector; our usual trip to the National Museum of Computing at Bletchley Park for our GCSE students and a trip to London for our Sixth Form to hear inspiring lectures on ‘Computing in Action’, including talks on using collaborative robots to solve problems, the power of algorithms to cure cancer or cause financial markets to crash. Our competitions help our Computer Scientists realise how talented they are, and our successes inspire younger students, so we entered our Third Years and above into the Bebras Challenge. Off the back of that performance, a number of students were invited to sit the Oxford University Coding Challenge. With several Merits and Distinctions, they did Churcher’s proud and Oliver Fogelin once again was invited to the final for the top 20 in the country. Internally we ran a competition for Second Years to design and pitch an App to help the community. This type of challenge requires team work and allows students to identify their talents which may not be just coding solutions. The team ‘Sign Lingo’ won with an original idea to help deaf people communicate with other people who don’t understand sign language but have a desire to learn how to communicate better with the deaf community. The App uses the camera feature on a phone, along with a program to recognise signs and speak or text the translation. Congratulations to the winning team of Charlotte Green, Rosie North, Jasmin Pearson and Lizzie Regan.

Karen McCathie

Design & Technology

What a difference a year makes. Twelve months ago, we were still in the midst of setting up the department, awaiting the delivery of equipment and getting to grips with a brand-new building. Twelve months on, and we are firmly established with all facilities up and running.

We have always endeavoured to create a curriculum that blends traditional skills alongside newer technology. To achieve this, our equipment and schemes of work are continually being updated. We have introduced a fidget spinner project in the Third Year, bringing CAD modelling into the lower school where students are now able to independently design and rapid prototype their ideas using our bank of 3D printers. Our textiles project in the Second Year, creates a new softshell phone case which students can use during their participation in OSCA. In the First Year, we have expanded the skills involved in our night light project with a bespoke project developed in-house.

Our students are once again back in the workshop after the disruption of Covid. Last year our GCSE students had the choice of three different design contexts to choose between: multifunctional living, teenage lifestyles, and nature and the environment. Over the twomonth period they have in which to manufacture, all turned their design concepts into tangible prototypes, manufactured to exacting standards. The Music Auditorium was the perfect backdrop to display these, and in May we enjoyed the Fifth Year and Upper Sixth Design Showcase for the first time since 2019. We have introduced a Lower School showcase in the Third Year, to allow students who may, at the end of their D&T studies, wish to present some of their work. We chose contemporary chair designs as our focus for the aptly named ‘Edge of your Seat’ challenge. All students in the Third Year created a selection of research, design, and development pages, along with a scaled model constructed in card, foam, and spar wood. The evening of the presentation saw 450 design pages displayed and a broad selection of models on display. A range of GCSE and A-Level work was also set out in order to allow students and parents see the progression from lower school, through GCSE, and on to A-Level. The evening was a great success and proved a useful recruitment tool with a number of students being inspired to follow D&T through into GCSE.

Our Green Power car has been back on track at Goodwood with varying degrees of success, the storage in our, somewhat outdated, Green Power shed having taken its toll over the winter months. All change here too as we await a new Green Power and wood store building to be able to develop our existing car, whilst slowly working towards a new build car. We have rewired the current vehicle, which should see it run with far greater consistency.

Open Day saw the department take over the Sports Hall with our Pinewood derby. Our Second Year students spent time during their lessons manufacturing their cars to race against each other throughout the morning. Also in the hall, we had our Green Power car and, keeping with the spirit of motor sport, were kindly loaned a McClaren 720S by Lanzante McClaren Petersfield, which took pole position outside the Hall for the duration of the weekend.

As ever, we strive to push our students to reach their full potential within the subject, both as designers and to be skilled in manufacturing. We look forward to welcoming students back in the new academic year and the resumption of business as usual.

Steve Edington