Our Faraday Challenge Day theme partner this season is Network Rail.

Based on a real-world problem, the Virtual Faraday Challenge brings together STEM subjects (science, design and technology, engineering and maths) in an engaging way and encourages the development of young people’s problem solving and communication skills.

This season’s Virtual Faraday Challenge tasked Year 8  to see if they can assist the work of Network Rail in helping them to sustainably manage the increasing numbers of passengers using their network and minimise their impact on the environment.

The amazing Candice Braithwaite, author, journalist, TV presenter, and founder of Make Motherhood Diverse, visited us this week to record a podcast that will be aired as part of our Allyship Week in June.

We have been working hard this year to develop the Design & Technology curriculum at Norwood, much to the excitement of our students, who have thoroughly enjoyed their new lessons in Food and Product Design. 

To further enhance the department we would like to purchase some more specialist equipment, such as a 3D printer, A1 laser cutter and a dye sublimation printer. We are therefore very excited to announce that our Rocket Fund, crowd funding page is now LIVE! 

We know it has been a challenging year for many (and for some, financially), yet we would be most grateful if you could share this far and wide among your family, friends and any businesses you may have contact with. 

Dear Parents, Cares and Guardians, 

During the last year we have been working with enthusiasm to develop our Design & Technology curriculum at The Norwood School, much to the excitement of our students. 

 Design & Technology encompasses Food, Graphics. Product Design and Textiles. So far in our journey, we have recommissioned the food room and workshop, had all machines serviced, invested in new equipment such as woks, chopping boards, a band saw, line bender and fret saw; as well as 5 new sewing machines for use with KS3 students. 

 D&T staff have completed their Level 2 Food Safety and Hygiene certification, as well as their workshop Health & Safety qualification. We have developed our schemes of learning and in September we started to deliver our new KS3 Technology curriculum which has included rotations in Food and Product Design. Students have thoroughly enjoyed their new lessons and it has been wonderful to see the workshop and food room buzzing with students learning practical and life enriching skills

30th March 2021

Dear Parents & Carers,

Thank you so much for your continued support throughout the very difficult last few months. We are delighted to have our students back in school and return to face-to face teaching. It has been impressive how well the students have settled back into school routines and how quickly they have re-established their friendships and football teams and favourite places. They have much to catch up on and are wasting no time!  Break times and lunch times are very noisy places but we don’t mind! Our school has been empty for far too long.

After school activities are returning. PE and Sports activities are up and running, with other curriculum areas offering an extra-curricular programme, once their work with Year 11 and 13 students has been completed.  With no terminal exams this year, teachers are busy working with students to gather the strongest and more robust evidence possible to support school assessments. They are having to work quickly and intensively as deadlines for submission are tight. Students know this and are focused and determined to demonstrate how much they know, despite school closures and much teaching being remote.

If there is one area that needs improvement for next term it is uniform. This is predictable and we have allowed  for a period of adjustment. However, from next term all students from Year 7 to Year 11 will be expected to be in immaculate school uniform with sixth formers abiding by our smart dress code. This is a non negotiable. Our expectations are clearly explained in The Student Handbook – page 7 on our website here.Please do not allow your children to convince you that ‘everyone else does’ – they don’t! Thank you for your cooperation.

Perhaps the one positive that has come out of school closure is the break through with independent learning, technology and parental engagement.  As parents you have engaged first hand with our live teaching and now know much more about what we teach and how our young people learn. We must build on this engagement and find ways to maximise our support for future home learning. Our curriculum is being adapted and designed to respond to this.