Baysgarth School: An engineering journey (Part 1)

Bio:

This is the first in a two-part series of podcasts and the first recorded live in a school. We are excited to be able to bring you what we plan will be the first in a series of spotlight sessions focused on D&T departments nationally. 

You can hear part one here.  

Baysgarth School is a Co-educational secondary school located in Barton-on-Humber, North Lincolnshire. The school was formed in 1975 through the merger of Barton Grammar School and Beretun Secondary Modern School. The school moved into new buildings within the last seven years.

Ofsted visited the school in January this year, and the school comfortably retained its rating of 'Good'. The school runs a unique curriculum offer with KS3 covered within years seven and eight, freeing up time for their 'Gateway' curriculum within year nine; this curriculum concentrates on four key areas of student development, these being:

• Achievement - Providing an academic foundation for KS4  study and freeing up time to allow students and their teachers to explore the richness and depth of learning that encourages deeper engagement and cross-curricular work. 
• Preparation for the future - Looking beyond examinations to how their education can help to prepare students for life. 
• Family and Community Engagement - Providing time for visits, cross-curricular work, and promoting community engagement. 
• Intent - Allowing students to change their GCSE option without the stress of having to 'catch up'. Develop a range of employability skills and connect what they do in school to the skillsets and attributes that will prepare students successfully for life.  

In this first of two podcasts, we talk with Ben Wilson (HoD) and Andrew Browne about how they have shaped and changed the D&T curriculum at Baysgarth, their vision for the department and its students and how their positivity and drive have been essential in getting the department to this point. We also look ahead to their future plans and desire for Baysgarth to be the centre for all STEM-related activity in the Humber region.

In part two of this mini-series (to be released next week), we will take inputs from all major stakeholders to the department, including students, the Headteacher, the head of careers engagement and parents.

So sit back, plug your earbuds in and listen to Designed for Life in conversation with Ben and Andy, departmental leaders at Baysgarth School, Barton on Humber.