FutureTech

FutureTech Lecture Programme

A regular series of thought-provoking lectures given by speakers from industry and research aimed at pupils and parents from Reed's together with our partner schools.

FutureTech Outreach

Through links with educational organisations (such as Primary Engineer, the Ogden Trust and LEGO Education) like minded schools (Bohunt and Greig Academy) and corporates (such as Siemens and McLaren) we have developed our STEM curriculum and forged mutually beneficial relationships.

FutureTech sponsored work experience and apprenticeships

A number of career apprenticeships and work experience are offered by our partner corporates to Reed’s pupils and pupils from our partner schools who show an aptitude for STEM.

FutureTech Exhibitions

FutureTech hosts regular exhibitions for innovations in aspects of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.

Standing alongside the curriculum is the co-curriculum which provides pupils with opportunities to develop their STEM skills and interests:

• Robotics Club (junior & senior)
• Greenpower Challenge
• McLaren Challenge
• Landrover 4x4 challenge

Third Form (Year 9)

As well as providing an exciting and creative learning environment the FutureTech Programme provides a cross-curricular programme for all Third Form pupils which removes the barriers between subjects and encourage interest, skill development and creativity in the areas of Science Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). The cross-curricular course involves topics such as:

1. TREATMENT OF COVID-19 Pupils are given the opportunity to plan for, and come up with ideas, to help reduce the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. From learning about transmission rates, to building automatic hand sanitiser machines and finally to carry out antibody testing, pupils gauge an understanding of what needs to be done on a mass scale to help prevent the spread of this disease.
2. CODING WITH SPHERO Pupils use the Sphero Edu App to programme robots to solve problems and explore scientific principles through a series of practical challenges. This course allows pupils to progress from using drag and drop coding to using Javascript to write their own code, an invaluable skill in the modern world.
3. SWIFT PLAYGROUNDS Pupils are introduced to the Swift Playgrounds - an app from Apple that makes learning Swift interactive and fun! Swift is a powerful programming language used to create apps for the App Store. Starting with the "Fundamentals of Swift" lesson they begin to tackle goals, solve puzzles, and learn the core concepts of coding in Swift.
4. FUTURETECH CSI Pupils apply their knowledge from various subject disciplines as well as learning to use new technology such as DNA fingerprinting and gel electrophoresis to solve a fictional crime at Reed’s - which teacher committed the ‘murder’?
5. ENGINEERING AEROPLANES An Airbus A380 jet weighs somewhere in the region of 400 tons.  How does it fly?  Pupils will look at the forces involved in getting aeroplanes into the air and, more importantly, keeping them there! They will then choose from designs ranging from the Wright brothers’ to modern day gliders to model their own plane.  Their knowledge of the principles of flight will then be put to practical use, developing their model to fly as efficiently and as accurately as possible.
6. ROBOTICS USING THE VEX IQ: Pupils build, then programme Vex Robots using the Vex Code App on their iPada, to complete a series of challenges around an obstacle course. The idea behind this is to make Computer Science come to life through collaborations, hands-on projects and engaging experience. Pupils will learn skills such as a problem solving, programming and teamwork and realise the thrill of coding through robotics.
7. A RENEWABLE FUTURE - Climate change and sustainability are hot topics, more so than ever before. Throughout the course pupils will grow to understand the importance of renewable energy and explore environmentally-friendly ways we can generate electricity. They will learn how electricity can be generated using magnets and build their own motors; explore, design and construct efficient wind turbines; and generate electricity from plants!

IGCSE Science Curriculum

In the Fourth & Fifth Forms (Years 10 and 11) STEM skills and concepts are developed through the IGCSE Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Electronics, and Computer Science Curriculum. All pupils study two or more Science Subjects.

AS/A2 Level Curriculum

Sixth Form pupils (Years 12 and 13) further develop STEM skills and understanding through studying A level Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Computer Science, and Mathematics.

There are various competitions and challenges which the Science and Mathematics departments support such as:

• Surrey SATRO – challenges to develop problem-solving skills using knowledge from across the STEM curriculum
• Faraday Challenge - a team of Year 8 pupils are given a problem and then have to think up a solution, design it and make it using a 3D printer. They then present their product to a panel of adults