A group of ten ‘A’ Level Product Design students from Tavistock College had a very inspiring visit to Pendennis Shipyard in Falmouth this January. The visit aimed to enrich the students’ understanding and awareness of different types of design, engineering and manufacture whilst hopefully really inspiring the students by showing them some really high specification outcomes. Pendennis are famous across the world for building and refitting superyachts. The students were given an extensive tour of the dry and wet dock facilities and were able to board an 85 metre superyacht which was in for a substantial refit. The students were amazed by the quality of craftsmanship as well as the problem solving nature of the works that were being carried out.
In the afternoon we visited Falmouth University’s Sustainable Product Design BA course, our progression partnership university. The students were given a real insight into the course and the facilities as well as being able to have their ‘A’ Level work critiqued and have valuable discussions about sustainable design with the course leaders and degree students. Mr Keegan who organised the trip said “Seeing the students presenting their work to degree students and then taking heed of the invaluable feedback is extremely rewarding as a teacher.” The A Level Product Design students will work with The degree course on numerous occasions through the year and the partnership which is now in its second year is having a very inspiring effect on the students and aspirations are really rising. Year 12 student Dominic Newton commented “I found both the Pendennis and university visits very beneficial. It was great to see an amazing workplace to aspire to and then see the degree course which looked fantastic. I really enjoyed the day and plan to study Product Design at Falmouth University after my A Levels.
Having the link in place is allowing me to start bridging the gap towards degree level study in my favourite subject.” We hope to run the same trip next year for a new cohort of students as opportunities like these are really helping to give students a path into some extremely exciting careers.
