DESIGNING THE FUTURE: CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION AT REPTON
From architectural concepts and product development to engineering and jewellery design, Repton's Design Department is helping pupils turn creative ideas into practical solutions, combining technical expertise with imagination and innovation.
Design has been part of life at Repton since 1918, and more than a century later, the subject continues to evolve. Today, the Department offers pupils the opportunity to explore an extensive range of creative and technical disciplines, developing the skills, confidence and independence to bring their ideas to life.
With more than 80 pupils currently studying Design at examination level, the subject is a popular part of Repton's academic offering. Including pupils in B Block, approximately one in four Reptonians engages in Design lessons each week, reflecting the subject's important place within the School's curriculum.
Where Creativity Meets Technology
At Repton, Design extends far beyond the traditional workshop. Through the study of 3D Design, pupils explore disciplines including architecture, graphic design, exhibition design, engineering, product design, interiors, textiles and jewellery.
This breadth encourages pupils to approach challenges from different perspectives, combining creativity with analytical thinking, technical precision and practical problem-solving. From initial sketches and research through to prototyping and production, pupils experience the complete design process, learning to refine their ideas and respond to the challenges they encounter along the way.
Supporting this work is a range of specialist equipment, including four Flashforge 3D printers, two laser cutters and two CNC router/lathes. A full-time technician works alongside the Department's teaching staff, helping pupils develop their technical skills and make effective use of the facilities.
The Department also benefits from a thoughtfully reimagined learning environment, following the completion of a refurbishment of its ground floor in September 2023. Combining contemporary facilities with the Department's longstanding heritage, the space provides an environment in which pupils can experiment, collaborate and develop their ideas.
With access to the Department seven days a week, pupils are encouraged to pursue their projects beyond timetabled lessons, allowing time for experimentation, refinement and independent exploration.
Celebrating Achievement and Ambition
The Department's commitment to combining creative ambition with technical excellence is reflected in its academic achievements. In the summer 2026 A Level examinations, Design pupils achieved a 100% pass rate, with 86% awarded grades A*–B.
Pupils have also found success beyond the classroom, with two former Reptonians securing places on the highly competitive Rolls-Royce Degree Apprenticeship programme in recent years. Ben Wheelton (OR) joined the scheme in 2020, followed by Jacob Ingleston Orme (OR) in 2025, demonstrating how the skills developed through Design can provide a foundation for careers in engineering and industry.
The Department also currently has a pupil recognised through the prestigious Arkwright Engineering Scholarship programme, which supports young people demonstrating exceptional potential in engineering and technical design.
Inspiration Beyond the Classroom
Opportunities to engage with the wider world of design are an important part of the Department's approach. An annual visit to London's Design Museum introduces pupils to the work of influential designers, emerging technologies and contemporary creative practice, encouraging them to consider how design responds to the changing needs of society.
Closer to home, the breadth of pupil talent is showcased each year through the Speech Day exhibition, which features more than 100 projects. Bringing together work from across the Department, the exhibition celebrates not only the finished pieces but also the imagination, technical understanding and perseverance behind them.
A Century of Design, a Future of Possibilities
Led by an all-female team of teaching staff, the Department continues to champion creativity, technical expertise and innovation, while encouraging more pupils to explore the opportunities offered by the subject.
More than 100 years after Design first became part of Repton, the Department remains committed to preparing pupils for a world in which creative thinking and technical capability are increasingly interconnected.
Whether pupils go on to pursue architecture, engineering, product development or another creative discipline, the foundations established at Repton equip them with skills that extend well beyond the classroom: the confidence to question, the ability to solve problems and the determination to turn an idea into something tangible.