Background
The Bush Primary School's Technology Centre is located in a purpose-built technology suite at Tararua College, Pahiatua, which it shares with the college. The centre is hosted by Hillcrest School, where it was based until 2002.
Year 7 and 8 classes from 14 schools attend the centre. Classes from each school attend a one-day (9:30am-2:15pm) lesson at the centre on a 12 day cycle (the 12th being a non-contact day). Each class therefore has 15 days tuition at the centre each year. Class make-up and numbers change each year -bigger schools may have two classes working over two days whereas up to four of the smaller schools might be combined in one class.
The centre is staffed by two teachers, Jacquey Neilson and Tim Swale. Jacquey teaches a term each of Soft Materials and Food Technology at each level while Tim teaches Electronics and Workshop Materials. When Jacquey is taking a Year 7 class Tim will be taking the Year 8s from that school, and vice-versa.
Jacquey arrived at the Bush Primary School's Technology Centre with a background in primary teaching and an interest in Soft Materials and Food Technology. Jacquey has taught in mostly rural schools since 1965 (with a 12-year break to raise children). She was a teaching principal for 16 years before taking on her present role in 2003. She has mostly taught at senior level in primary schools and was keen to use this experience to take on the challenges of Food Technology.
