Mr Pearson, Acting Head of Art, Design & Technology
Name: Mr Pearson
My job at the Archer Academy: Acting Head of Art, Design & Technology
The subjects I will teach: Design and Technology
The areas of my subject I most enjoy teaching are: Turning ideas into products. I love enabling students to take their creative ideas and turn these into real life practical products. My particular area of interest is CAD/CAM, this is using machines like laser cutters and 3d printer to create products.
My favourite Year 8 project is the pewter casting project. Pupils use molten pewter to cast their own jewellery or keyring. The results this year have been fantastic, I am so impressed with the products the year 8’s have produced. You will be able to see them on display in our new school. My favourite Year 7 project is the pencil box project! Pupils use hand tools to cut a wooden frame using different joints. It’s really hands on and practical which is great fun.
The enrichment activities I am hoping to run after school: I think ADT is an incredibly important subject so I hope to set up a number of ADT enrichments including Formula 1 in schools, jewellery, craft and art club. This will give you budding artists and designers the opportunity to develop your talents even further. Also, I love football and have run a football enrichment called football skills.
What I am most looking forward to this year at the Archer Academy: I am most looking forward to welcoming our new Year 7 students who will join an already fabulous school. I have so enjoyed working with and giving our current Year 7 and Year 8 students the opportunity to develop their design and artistic talents and I am looking forward to working with 150 new students!
Two top facts about me:
- I am a big Manchester United fan and I love football. I love talking about football but not so much over the last two years! Hopefully United will do better next year!
- I love skiing. I have been skiing a few times and have been caught by the ski bug! I love the adrenaline rush I get when skiing down a mountain and trying jumps (falling mostly!).
If I wasn’t a teacher I would be: A carpenter. This is what I did before I got into teaching. I worked on all sorts of jobs, putting up roofs, hanging doors and lots of other woodwork projects. My work took me across Ireland, England and Australia.
My message to our new Year 7s:
I am looking forward to meeting you all. You will have a fantastic time at your fabulous new school. I hope to help you develop into creative, responsible and mature young adults.
Ms Au, Teacher of Design & Technology
Name: Ms Au
My job at the Archer Academy: Teacher of Design & Technology
The subjects I will teach: Design & Technology
The areas of my subject I most enjoy teaching are: Packaging! I love teaching students to design and make packaging for different purposes. Do you know how many layers of materials have been laminated in a drink carton? Do you know the meaning of the symbols on packaging? Do you know how to use a flat piece of card to create a 3D product? Design & Technology allows you to put all the learning from different parts of the curriculum into practice and maybe develop into an exciting career!
The enrichment activities I am hoping to run after school: I love the art of origami especially combining lots of small modular origami to form a big structure with a group of students. When I was a student, I had successfully combined the idea of origami with electronics to create a big screen panel that lit up by touching sensor. Would you like to join me to build a big origami structure?
What I am most looking forward to in the third year of the Archer Academy: I am looking forward to delivering different fun and exciting DT projects for all of you.
Two top facts about me:
- I love cooking. My signature dish is sticky toffee pudding with butterscotch sauce!
- I also love mountain biking with friends. My favourite trail is in Bike Park Wales.
If I wasn’t a teacher I would be: I would be running my own restaurant or carry on working as a children’s book illustrator.
My message to our new Year 7s:
I am looking forward to meet all of you and can’t wait to work with you in the brand new campus at Stanley Road.
Miss Pritchard, Teacher of Art
Name: Miss Pritchard
My job at the Archer Academy: Teacher of Art
The subjects I will teach: Art
The areas of my subject I most enjoy teaching are: That is a very hard question to answer; I love teaching all areas of making art! If I had to choose, it would be print-making. There are so many different ways to print: mono, lino, etching and screen-printing. There is also an element of surprise and happy accidents in the printing process.
The enrichment activities I am hoping to run after school: I love creating art and in particular anything crafty! I would like to teach a series of craft workshops in which each week you would learn a new skill to create a product.
What I am most looking forward to this year at the Archer Academy: I am looking forward to meeting another 150 artists and helping you find a material you enjoy working with.
Two top facts about me:
- I am an illustrator – I love drawing.
- I enjoy the countryside and I am a keen climber.
If I wasn’t a teacher I would be: I would have a little studio and gallery to sell contemporary craft.
My message to our new Year 7s:
I am very excited to meet all the new Year 7s and support you in making your own art. This year you will explore lots of different materials and processes to find something you enjoy. See you in September!