Firstly, this isn’t a petition in the normal sense of the word, it’s just a quick way for us as parents to see if our school community is interested in design technology being offered at the school. 

Stover School is a wonderful inquiry-based learning environment, for children aged 3-18, that cherishes our children and puts their interests at the heart of the education on offer. There is plenty of outdoor space to explore and grow through self-guided play.

 As there is no academic assessment to get in, this independent school attracts a broad spectrum of creative and inquisitive children. As a parent I believe that the lack of dedicated DT learning through all levels of the school, but particularly from year 7 onwards is missing an opportunity for a fully rounded learning experience.

We are living in, and our children are learning in, a time of uncertainty where spatial, imaginative and lateral thinking skills are being lost but are more sought-out than ever. At a time when kids are being increasingly plugged into tech, DT offers a wonderful bridge between the physical and digital world, so wouldn’t it be wonderful if Stover School added this to their GCSE (and A Level) offer to give our children a full spectrum of choice when it came to shaping their futures?

While Stover is going  through a time of growth and change with lots of building work proposed for the coming years, I feel this is an ideal time to raise this issue. If you’d like school-wide DT to be put on the agenda for discussion by the headship team and governors please sign below. Many thanks for supporting skills-based learning! Sylvie Saunders (son in year 6)