Jonathan Lord MP Visits Winston
I was delighted to welcome our local MP the RHon Jonathan Lord, MP to Winston on Friday 12th February.During the visit I was able to discuss the plans to develop an exciting new learning environment for our students and we observed the Grammar Stream and Aspire Groups in their Maths lesson and in Music. Students in these groups are taught Maths using the Harkness Method, an enquiry based approach which encourages the development of independent learning and problem solving skills. During the visit Jonathan was able to see a workshop being run by Theo Fennell with our Design Technology students, taking place in our library. There are more details below about this work.
We were then able to see the Year Grammar Stream 8 students in a music lesson, again being stretched with complex rhythms and vocabulary, that they needed to use to create their own music.
Jonathan was very keen to talk to the students about their experience and I was also able to raise a number of challenges facing schools.
Working with Theo Fennell
This was a really successful day, where we had three master classes with students from year 9 and 10 who are particularly talented in Technology, working with Theo Fennell. Theo taught the groups the principles of drawing and perspective and also gave insight into the industry of jewellery design in an interview with Emily Dowding, Holly Kitcat and Jake Spiller for the BBC school report.
Theo discussed with each student their designs they had submitted to be a part of the day and set each group the challenge of designing either a part of cufflinks or rings that could be opened to reveal a surprise, much like his trademark style. The students came up with some amazing ideas, such as opening fridge doors to display lots of luxurious foods, an egg which opens to reveal a baby bird and a beach hut which opens up to an ocean paradise.
The students have all been tasked to take these designs away over half term and work on their ideas; they then need to bring them back to Miss Blackman to send off for Mr Fennell to judge, before possibly winning a place on a trip to his studio in Fulham Road and then the best three designs might be made in his workshop.
This was Theo’s forth year working with Winston students and each year gets better and better. We appreciate Theo's time and expertise and cannot wait for next year's event!
