Background
Wellington College is a decile 10 boys' school with a roll of 1,500 students.
Technology is compulsory in Years 9-10, with Technology and Graphics offered as an option in Years 10-11. Technology and Graphics are offered in Years 12-13. Graphics has tended to be more popular, but this has begun to change, partly due to the Beacon Practice work being done at the school.
After working as a freelance artist, Matthew Lane taught Graphics at four schools in the UK, three of them as HoD, and also worked as an advanced skills teacher in the subject. He emigrated to New Zealand with his wife and six children in 2002, and taught at Wellington College, where he became Head of Department Graphics and Technology (with a Technology emphasis on resistant materials) in 2005.
In 2005, Matthew Lane's Year 12 class (of 20 mixed ability students) pioneered client-based technology work with Year 5-6 students at St Marks Church School. Their projects were based on problem solving relating to St Marks's specifically, with 50% of the projects ultimately being accepted and implemented. Matthew had three university students coming in to work with his class as mentors, plus several outside specialists visiting and giving input.
