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Background information Key Stage 4 Key Stage 3 Extra - curricular activities

Ounsdale High School is a mixed, 11 to 18, comprehensive school, in rural Staffordshire, with 1148 pupils on roll, of whom 165 are in the sixth form.  In September 1997 the school intake rose from seven to eight forms, reflecting the increasing popularity of the school. The catchment area includes parts south of Wolverhampton and west of Dudley. The intake is not truly comprehensive as a few high ability pupils, especially girls, go to local selective schools in Wolverhampton. A local sixth form college attracts some pupils at the end of Year 11 although there are plans to develop the sixth form provision at the school. Pupils' attainment on entry to the school is in line with the national average.

Ounsdale High School has always been renowned for its creativity in design and technology. Over the years there has been a move to take a more multi-media approach to designing and making. The teaching and learning in electronics in KS4 is covered through the OCR syllabus 'Systems and Control'. Although the workshop provision at the school is inadequate and desperately in need of modernising, the results in this area of D&T, (73%A*-C), continue to be well above the school average.

This case study illustrates how one school is developing a coherent KS3-4 scheme of work to develop pupils interest in modern technology.