“Electronics is increasingly becoming embedded in the fabric of our material and social lives. The electronics industry underpins almost all other business activities including product and service development, product manufacture and service provision, so all children in a rounded educational experience should have some exposure to how the technical world they live in is constructed and operated.”
Oriel Specialist Mathematics and Computing College is one of the 20% of high schools to teach electronics in the county. Along with the custom built electronics workshop, Oriel has received recognition as a school promoting the teaching of electronics by gaining ‘The design and technology association’, Electronics in Schools Initiative Accreditation.
Oriel is the first secondary school locally to achieve the E.I.S accreditation. We will use this to further promote one of the most challenging subjects in the curriculum and continue to raise the aspirations and achievements of our students studying Electronics.
Find out more about this exciting accreditation on the E.I.S website.
The first major step has been taken toward the building of the new Theatre / Arts block, which is to be built on the far side of the multi-sports area.
There has been an architect contracted to draw up plans for the build which will include a theatre (which can also be used as a cinema), two KS3 Art rooms, a KS4 Art space (where every GCSE student will have their own individual work area for the 2 years of study), dance studio, music room, photography IT suite, drama studio and cafeteria for community use. Attached to the new block there will also be a crèche with space for 30 infants from 6 months to pre-school.
The architect Craigh Page, a local man, was given brief to include as many ‘green’ features as possible, including grassed roofing and heat extraction from the ground.
It is intended that the working and public areas will have as much daylight as possible. Once the designs and elevations are completed a student group will be put together as the ‘consultancy group’, who will be able to put forward ideas that will help to improve and modify the plans before they can go to planning permission stage. The community, both in and around Oriel will also be able to view the plans and contribute ideas to what, we hope, will be a building that will enhance the cultural life of the area for years to come.
