Meet The Team
D&T Teachers and SKE Tutors
David Cannon
Qualification
Graphic Design BA (Hons)
Bio
I am an experienced SKE tutor and teacher of Design & Technology. I currently work in a high-achieving grammar school as Director of Creative and Performing Arts where I manage a group of
creative, experienced and passionate teachers. As a teacher of D&T, I have taught across the subject at all ages including GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition, A Level Fashion & Textiles, and
KS3 Computer Science. I specialise in Product Design focussing on timber, paper and board and polymers. I teach all the way through from year 7 to year 13. I am pleased that many of my students have
continued within the subject and gone on to study engineering, architecture, furniture design and graphic design. I am passionate about problem-solving and hope to foster a trial-and-error approach
in my students. The iterative design process is a key part of the curriculum and through testing and modelling ideas students can produce a successful product. Outside of teaching, I enjoy practical
activities including gardening, wood turning and typography. I have a young family and an intelligent border collie cross who loves a run.
Kirsty Patston
Qualification
Textile Design BA (Hons)
Bio
After graduating with a BA (Hons) in Textile Design from the University of Leeds, I knew that I wanted to pursue a career where it would enable me to share my passion for design. Therefore, I
began my training with Havering Teacher Training partnership in 2012 and qualified as a design and technology teacher. Over the last 10 years I have been able to develop my skills and
confidently teach all aspects of the subject. I enjoy the fact that every day is different. One minute I can be teaching students how to hand embroider, the next I could be demonstrating
how to cut wood joints, or even baking a cake. For the last four years, I have taken on the role of subject progress head of food preparation and
nutrition and monitor the progress of over 100 students each year. My core value is rooted in my desire to see young people succeed and provide students with an opportunity to learn and
experience something new each day. In my spare time, I enjoy exploring new places with my little children and if I ever get a minute to myself, I like experimenting with different designs
on my sewing machine.
Lauren Hill
Qualification
Graphics and Digital Design BA (Hons)
Bio
I am a Design Technology SKE Tutor with Eureka Online College. I graduated from the University of Greenwich
and completed a PGCE in Design Technology at Canterbury Christchurch University
Since qualifying to teach 12 years ago I have taught both Design Technology and Art and Design specifications. I am currently Leader of Textiles in a large girls' grammar school in Kent. As
well as teaching in school, I have worked for AQA for a number of years as an examiner for A Level Product Design.
I love teaching and creating challenging and exciting resources. I enjoy learning new techniques and passing these on to my students. My latest project is teaching myself machine
knitting!
Lucy Frost
Qualification
Architectural Technology BSc (Hons)
Middle Leadership Development Award through the National College (2013)
Bio
I have been teaching for 13 years and qualified through the STTP on the Graduate Teacher Program. I teach across KS3, 4 and 5. At the end of my NQT year (2010) I became Subject Progress Head for Graphics and Product Design.
The role has shifted through the years as different qualifications became part of our faculty. I am currently responsible for overseeing the Design and Technology GCSE running the specialisms of Papers and Boards, Woods and Textiles. I am also responsible for the management of Three Dimensional Design at A level which we teach through the lens of architecture. It’s extremely rewarding to teach the next generation of designers and encourage them to design and problem solve. My role within school also extends to being part of the Duke of Edinburgh team, helping to run the Bronze Award as well as being part of the school ski trip staff.
Alongside my teaching role, I also work for the University of Buckingham as a visiting PGCE mentor assessing Design and Technology trainee teachers throughout their training year. Training teachers
is an area of education that I am passionate about and love to see how Design and Technology can be delivered in so many different ways depending on the backgrounds trainees bring to the
classroom.
Outside my teaching role I am a mum to 3 young boys who keep me busy. I am a parent councillor at my eldest son’s school. I love anything interior design related, and I am just finishing project
managing our second renovation. I enjoy visiting new places and holidays away with family and friends.
Rachael Hopkins
Qualification
Interior Architectural Design BA (Hons)
Outstanding Teachers Program
Bio
I graduated from The University of Essex and completed a
Graduate Teachers Programme in 2008 in Product Design (Beauchamp High School).
I am a teacher of Design Technology located in Southend on Sea, Essex. My focus areas in technology are resistant materials and three-dimensional design. I have taught courses in Engineering, Product Design, Resistant Materials and Art at both GCSE and A-level over the past 12 years of my teaching. I enjoy teaching and could not imagine working in any other profession. I have worked in three schools during my career becoming head of the department in 2016. I had the privilege of completing my Outstanding Teacher Program alongside OFSTED framework during 2015-2016 and became leader of teaching and learning at my previous school with a focus to promote creativity within the classroom.
I currently work part-time due to having a young family teaching Design Technology at GCSE and A-Level 3D design.
I am a strong believer in living life to its fullest, working to the best of your ability, committing to the things you believe are important and achieving your life aims and goals in relation to
both academic and personal achievements. Life is too short not to do what you love.
My family are my world. I have two beautiful girls under 5 and a long-term partner who is a mathematics teacher. I have a personal interest in mindfulness, meditation and nature. I’m a regular
swimmer and competed nationally when I was younger.
Sarah Huxen
Qualification
Graphic Design BA (Hons)
Bio
I qualified as a teacher of Design & Technology from Goldsmith’s College, London University 1993-94 PGCE 11-18 (QTS awarded)
I have delivered A-Level Textiles since 2008 when I personally researched, wrote, resourced, and taught the course according to the Edexcel Specification, leading three other teachers in the teaching of the course. Initially I visited two completely different schools, a Performing Arts School and a Grammar School to see how they ran A-Level Textiles. I then embarked on several CPD training sessions over the years such as Edexcel’s 2008 course ‘Getting ready to Teach A2 Art and Design’ to enhance my understanding of the specification and increase my skills and knowledge. I developed a scheme that initially consisted of diverse practical workshops and introductions to new textile technologies.
This work, together with my years of experience of teaching Resistant Materials, Graphics and Textiles combined with my Degree in Graphics/Illustration/Printmaking and experience of teaching GCSE and KS3 Art in previous employments helped me to create a vibrant SOW with practical creativity at its core. This has paved the way to similarly write and deliver the Edexcel Product Design A-Level course. Ultimately, my passion is Textiles and I am now the sole teacher of Textiles in my current school. I am currently engaged in personal CPD based around shadow fold construction techniques. Outside of school, I enjoy knitting and dog walking.
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