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Original poster

Best Independent school for engineering - DT

40 replies

ARCHIE114 · 25/01/2022 17:07

Hi, I wonder if someone can point me in the right direction. My DS is 15 and in year 10 at an independent school in London. He seems to be very determined to get into mechanical engineering /car design, the school he is at now does not have DT per se but they do Graphic Design, that he loves and he has chosen, as one of his GCSE subjects, together with triple science and extra maths and geography, as we were told these are the best subjects, if he is thinking engineering/architecture/design. He is now considering of moving for A level, but I was trying to research what would be the schools in London or just outside that have great to DT departments, or prepare better for the universities degrees he seems to be very keen on. I do not seem to find anything like that.

OP posts:
Lonecatwithkitten · 26/01/2022 19:30

@ARCHIE114

Thanks Swgeek, he was offered a place on the waitlist at City of London, but I checked the 16 plus entry and it is about a dozen of places and I am sure will be super competitive, they do robotic and electronics more than design and technology too. And not many leavers do engineering, it maybe just a case but I think last year they only had one.

Isonthecase, I did check the requirement of automotive uni courses and for this specific branch they do ask for design and technology too, but I agree it is so much work, that it does take away time from extra maths (which is compulsory in most Uni) and physics, although he totally loves it. He does loves maths too, but with design and technology I could easily see him spending days doing it with a smile on his face and ultimately he needs to do what he enjoys too ?

Kingston and Trinity maybe a stretch too far even if for just two years

What part of car design interests him - it is a very compartmentalised industry. My DH started in gear boxes and moved into rear axles on performance cars - he has a general technical engineering degree it was the fact that he also had done mechanic apprenticeship and then his work experience being a mechanic on rally cars that got him his in to car design. His boss is an aerodynamic engineer they will work with electrical engineers (who design the electrical looms), composite engineers, fluid dynamics to develop a car. The days of a single person being responsible for a car design are long gone. Cranfield is very industry specific. Many, many people actually start their careers and n powerboats and then move into car design.
Snowiscold · 26/01/2022 17:57

If it helps, a young relative of mine has just got his PhD in engineering after an undergraduate degree - marine engineering in this case. He went to a comprehensive school and did Art, Maths and Physics at A-level.

Original poster
ARCHIE114 · 26/01/2022 17:50

Ellie - I so agree with you on this, to spend all of your time on maths and physics at 16 seems so narrow, I feel only doing 4 subjects is so narrow too ! Car design is an important part of the equation. I would love to find a school for him, where he can really do what he loves doing and if that helps for his future career, even better, but at this stage it is not the main issue. Working experience in an industry related area, for sure is another avenue I would like to explore, simply because I know he would love every minute of it.

OP posts:
Original poster
ARCHIE114 · 26/01/2022 17:42

Thanks Swgeek, he was offered a place on the waitlist at City of London, but I checked the 16 plus entry and it is about a dozen of places and I am sure will be super competitive, they do robotic and electronics more than design and technology too. And not many leavers do engineering, it maybe just a case but I think last year they only had one.

Isonthecase, I did check the requirement of automotive uni courses and for this specific branch they do ask for design and technology too, but I agree it is so much work, that it does take away time from extra maths (which is compulsory in most Uni) and physics, although he totally loves it. He does loves maths too, but with design and technology I could easily see him spending days doing it with a smile on his face and ultimately he needs to do what he enjoys too ?

Kingston and Trinity maybe a stretch too far even if for just two years

OP posts:
Isonthecase · 26/01/2022 14:38

@EllieNBeeb Yes but you can get that just as well from doing work experience and picking a degree with a high level of lab work, you can't get maths skills by doing DT.

Interestingly there are some new degrees coming out that are more hands on these days, I know NMITE do one and I think the MTC do some courses like that. Not sure how well recognised they'd be though.

EllieNBeeb · 26/01/2022 14:00

DT develops creative problem solving and analytical thought in a way that isn't done in physics and math. If you read the future of Jobs report or Deloitte's report on skills shortages, you can see that traditional 'hard' subjects are leaving massive gaps in skills/knowledge and the idea that math and physics are the only classes necessary is really quite an antiquated train of thought. If engineers and coders can't place their knowledge into the real world/actual use context then their skills are useless

Isonthecase · 26/01/2022 11:46

I'd call a uni with a great automotive department and see what they recommend. Coventry would be a good shout, most of the jaguar land rover design team seem to have gone there.

Really though I'm not sure DT adds any real value unless he wants to go for automotive design and suspect the time spent on coursework would distract him from getting the grades in the subjects he needs (maths and physics). He would be far better focusing on relevant work experience.

Seeline · 26/01/2022 11:31

Trinity does have a fantastic DT department. It's a popular A level taken by students who go on to engineering and architecture, amongst other things.

Sixth form is co-ed, although the girls are a minority (DD is one of about 40 girls in a year of 150).

swgeek · 26/01/2022 10:31

Have a look at Kingston Grammar School and City of London School as well (depending on where in London you are!)

Original poster
ARCHIE114 · 25/01/2022 23:33

Thanks this is useful . Yes I knew about maths and physics, in fact for the most competitive universities extra maths is compulsory, but for automotive I read also design and technology, that unfortunately is not taught everywhere. For example in my current son school he does graphic design -It is all very complicated and I am glad I starting looking at it early, He should do that too

OP posts:
Lonecatwithkitten · 25/01/2022 23:01

My DH is an automotive engineer maths and physics are the two most important things he needs. CAD can be learnt at Uni, but without really strong maths and physics the aerodynamics and torque calculations etc will be really hard.

There are very few new concepts in car designs these days it is taking bits from previous designs and cobbling them together - that's from someone at the cutting edge of car design.

KillingEvenings · 25/01/2022 21:36

Speaking of Lightsabres, Head of admissions at Trinity built the lightsabre for Darth Maul.
Their DT department looks fab too, as does DC. Trinity is coed for 6th form.

Original poster
ARCHIE114 · 25/01/2022 19:08

Thanks Lightsabre - Seven Oaks wd be brilliant also be keen for him to be in a co-ed setting but 1.40 hr each way from where we are makes it too far :(

Anothernewt - Dulwich college looks very impressive on DT - thanks - pity is boys only, I heard Alleyn is also very good for DT ?

OP posts:
AnotherNewt · 25/01/2022 18:10

Always worth looking at Dulwich College

Big DT department, strong in maths - generally good all round really

21 to engineering degrees according to most recent list of leavers destinations (1 of which was automotive)

2 to architecture

Lightsabre · 25/01/2022 18:05

Sevenoaks school has a fantastic DT department. I think there are fast trains out to Sevenoaks and also boarding.