Photograph of the woodwork classroom, off the Main Hall, c.1910s. RGS Archives [Ref No: 149]. ©RGS Newcastle
History of Technology at RGS
Woodwork was the forerunner of Design & Technology at RGS. There was provision for a workshop in one of the classrooms off the Main Hall in the early years at the Eskdale Terrace site.
On 5 June 1931, a new building was formally opened; it had workshops on the ground floor for woodwork and metalwork, with Geography and Biology upstairs. Students could study applied mechanics, mechanical drawing and woodwork.
The RGS evacuation to Penrith during the Second World War had an impact on the department. Challenges with teaching accommodation in Penrith meant that the woodwork benches were transported over from Jesmond for use in teaching Physics.
After the war, co-curricular or ‘Leisure Hour Handicrafts’ were re-launched, giving students the opportunity to work on woodwork or metalwork projects. By 1947, there was a newly-formed ‘Plastics Class’. By 1950, Aero-modelling Club and a Meccano Guild had been added.
Plan for the proposed new woodwork block, in the 1930 Speech Day programme, RGS Archives. © RGS Newcastle
The Newcastle Central Motorway developments meant that the 1931 block had to be demolished, and a new building on the south-east side of the school was opened in 1970. It initially housed Woodwork, Biology and Geography, and later developments in 1975 provided space for what was then called ‘Technical Studies’. Later, the subject was called CDT: Craft, Design & Technology.
By 1983, students could enter full GCE Exams in Design & Technology, followed by an A-level course in 1984. The 1984 A-level year showed the success of the department, as 17 National Awards were made to 13 candidates for industrial sponsorships, thanks to their exam results.
In 1989, the first ever National Curriculum was launched in the UK. All technical subjects were now taught under the ‘Design & Technology’ umbrella.
Our Science & Technology Centre was opened in 1997; it was renamed in 2003, in memory of Head of Science, Neil Goldie.
Photograph of the Science & Technology block, c.2008. ©Nicholas Posner.
The most recent change to the department has been the development of Computer Science at RGS. Since 2018, RGS has had an Engineering, Design & Technology department, headed by Pete Warne, and the Digital Technology & Computer Science department, headed by Chris Wilde.
Photograph of the Woodwork Block, c.1950s [RGS Archives, ref: 149]
Photograph of the Technology Building, c.1980s.[RGS Archives, ref: Acc 0104]