Problem-solvers on Radio 4

Year 9 have taken part in a project called Fixperts this year as part of their Design & Technology lessons.

The innovative learning programme challenges our pupils to use their imagination and practical skills to create solutions to everyday problems for a real person. The project has seen girls acting as professional designers by speaking to a real client, identifying their needs, and using their feedback to produce a design solution, which they then gift to their clients. The approach is a 21st century mix of innovation, technical skills and social values.

South Hampstead is one of the first schools to take on the Fixperts challenge, which is usually only run in universities. As such, Design & Technology teacher Miss Young has collaborated with Fixperts to create a case study of the pupils’ work, alongside developing workshops, activities and teacher training for schools. This new programme, Fixperts for Schools, was recently awarded runner up in the Design Education Initiative Award at the Core77 Design Awards 2018.

BBC Radio 4 recently came to school to interview Miss Young and the pupils about their experiences for a show called ‘How do our kids beat the robots?’ which discusses how children are being prepared for an increasingly digital and rapidly changing modern world. The girls spoke to journalist Sathnam Sanghera about the life skills they have developed, such as communication and collaboration, innovative thinking, resilience and agility. The programme is just one of the many exciting ways we strive to equip all our pupils for future careers and life beyond South Hampstead.