Cranleigh School celebrates national recognition for design and technology
Cranleigh School will host a special announcement ceremony today (Wednesday, May 20) to officially mark its appointment as a Design and Technology Association (D&TA) Hub School for the Southeast region.
Sam Price, head at Cranleigh School, said: “The ceremony is a wonderful opportunity to acknowledge the expertise of our staff and the remarkable enthusiasm of our students.
“Being selected as a Design and Technology Association Hub School is a significant milestone that validates our belief in the importance of engineering and creativity.
“When you walk into our design engineering department, you can feel it buzzing with the energy of pupils who are not just learning but innovating.
“We are delighted to take on this regional leadership role and to continue fostering high-quality technological skills.”
The event will also celebrate the individual achievement of Mr Jon Taylor, head of design engineering at Cranleigh, who has been awarded the status of Regional D&T Leader, sponsored by Samsung UK.
Mr Jon Taylor said: “I’m delighted with this news, firstly for Cranleigh but also for the design and engineering pupils and staff who have shown such dedication to the subject.
“Cranleigh's new status as a Hub School will bring so many benefits with it, including crucial partnerships with industry and collaboration opportunities that will empower D&T education in our region.
“My new role will also see me acting as a point of contact for D&T teachers across our region to offer advice and support.
“This will make Cranleigh a focal point for collaboration, best practice, ideas and resources.”
Lol Conway, curriculum and professional development manager for the Design and Technology Association, said: “We are absolutely delighted that Cranleigh School has been recognised as a Design and Technology Association D&T Hub School, and that Jon Taylor has been appointed as Regional D&T Lead.
“This recognition reflects both the school’s outstanding commitment to design and technology education and Jon’s exceptional leadership and dedication to supporting teachers across the region.
“Together, Cranleigh School and Jon will play a vital role in strengthening collaboration, sharing best practice, and ensuring that more young people benefit from inspiring, high-quality design and technology education.
“We look forward to seeing the positive impact their work will have on schools, teachers and students across the region.”
The department’s success is further evidenced by its recent performance in national robotics.
This season, Cranleigh’s robotics teams have secured three Tournament Champion trophies, with both senior teams progressing to the national finals of the VEX robotics competition.
Academically, the school remains a leader in the field, with 100 per cent of A-Level design engineering and product design students achieving A*-B grades in 2025.