Extra Curricular Activities

TECHNOLOGY STUDENTS GO TO TOWN

On the morning of the 28th of February nine year 9 and two year 11 pupils, plus myself, visited the premises of Arthur Brett Ltd in Norwich. This was a follow-up to last year’s Technology Day for year 9 pupils, when representatives from Brett’s very kindly supported us with workshops for the day.

Malcolm Kary in the polishing workshop explaining the processes
involved for finishing their finest furniture. The two current
year 11 pupils pictured, Ben Mathews and Sean Mountifield,
are contemplating apprenticeships in woodworking related trades.

The year 9 pupils took with them their partly completed veneered chessboards, which they had started on the Technology Day. Whilst we had a tour of the factory their chessboards were being glued in the veneering workshop. (More details will follow when they have been completed back at school.)

Where the making process starts – the machining shop

During the visit we gained a real insight into how furniture is made, from the CAD drawings, to raw materials, machining, carving, veneering, assembling and polishing. Not only very interesting from a technology point of view, but also for seeing and understanding how a modern business operates.

An almost complete product, a table awaiting the customer’s final specifications for the colour and polished finish. The solid wooden mould needed to form the curved parts of this table took six people to lift it !

We completed our tour viewing the finished pieces of furniture that will be delivered to customers worldwide.

 Our thanks again to Arthur Brett Ltd, for a stimulating visit and for assisting our pupils with their technology work.

A beautifully veneered table top in contrasting timbers

One of the more unusual items that we saw, a finely made canine residence!