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As part of our school community partnerships, the Design Technology and Engineering department have been hosting workshops with Harington, a local charity for young adults with learning differences.

Set up in Highgate over 40 years ago, Harington delivers individual learning programmes to support their students into employment, further education and with life skills across a range of activities including retail and horticulture.

DTE have been running weekly afternoon sessions with students and their assistants, to design and make small items that can be sold at Harington’s Christmas Fair, with proceeds going back to the charity. As part of the department’s aim of making sustainable products, Harington students have been using recycled materials left over from school projects to create their own Christmas decorations, such as acrylic baubles and mini plywood trees. Over a series of weeks, the small groups have been given different tasks to complete, with guidance from DTE staff using resources in the workshops.

Highgate DTE Teacher, Will Hughes-Caley, who has been leading the tutorials explains more:

It’s been a pleasure to have the Harington students and assistants here in DTE. They’ve made progress each week, from the initial stage of drawing up their ideas, through to laser-cutting, painting and making a production line where each student is responsible for a different stage of completion. They’ve worked well as a team and their products are really beautiful.

Christmas decorations
Christmas decorations made from recycled materials

The sessions will continue in the new year with students learning to make further sustainable products, such as combs and soap dishes, using plastic recycled from yoghurt pots collected from the school canteen.

Will added: “It’s rewarding for us to be able to do partnerships like this within our local community, especially as it’s giving young people the opportunities to advance their life skills that could lead to a job or further education. We wish them lots of luck with the Christmas Fair!

Harington Christmas Fair takes place on Saturday 7 December from 10am to 2pm. Visit their website for more information here.