SEDBERGH PUPIL IN NATIONAL DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION AWARDS

Sedbergh School Design Technology student from Hovingham, near York, was a finalist and runner up in the MTA’s Technology Design and Innovation Challenge awards, held at the European Technology Centre in Worcester this Summer. (July)

George Wainwright (S), 18, entered his A Level project, a Hydraulic Bale Spike, which can be attached to a JCB. He said: “My original idea was to meet a need that farmers have at Harvest. I come from a farming family and so was using first hand knowledge. I used four words to come up with my idea and used these all the way through the process. These were: cost, safety, inspiration and efficiency.”

George researched the market and looked for ways to improve existing products. “I talked to the judges at the MTA about the product and how it differs from competitors’ solutions. The awards involved producing display work showing extracts from my portfolio and information and research about the product, and I had to demonstrate to the judges how it worked. After the awards, we were treated to a tour of Yamazaki Mazak’s European Technology Centre and Manufacturing Facility.’

Headmaster Andrew Fleck said: “This is a tremendous achievement which is well deserved. I’m particularly pleased because George will pursue a career in agricultural engineering, so this underlines his talent in this area. Our Design Department is a marvellous resource and we are excited about development plans which will enable us to develop it further in the years ahead.”

James Fudge, Skills and Communications Manager for the MTA, said: “The MTA’s TDI Challenge exists to help teachers and lecturers promote the great work of their D&T and Engineering students and to celebrate the creativity and innovation taking place inside the curriculum.

In turn, the competition helps our industry to better understand the challenges that education is facing and how we might be able to assist through collaboration. It is open to pupils aged 14 – 19 who have created an impressive Design and Technology project within school and pupils could win an iPad or graphics tablet.”

Visit https://www.sedberghschool.org/senior/explore-sedbergh/academics/product-design-jewellery to find out more about opportunities to study in the School’s Design and Technology department.

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