Mr Stephen Sadler recently joined as Head of Robotics and Teacher of DET. Having visited the School many times over the last decade, paths have collided and Stephen is now an extremely valued member of the team, even travelling to the VEX World Championships in his second week here!
What were you doing before Taylors’ and what led you to your role here?
I have worked across a range of roles in Primary, Secondary, Further Education and Higher Education throughout my career. Before joining Merchant Taylors’, I was Head of Digital Learning and Digital Strategy at Beechwood Park Prep School. My move to Taylors’ was driven by a desire to keep combining education, innovation and practical impact, and to help young people develop confidence in areas such as Computing, Robotics and wider STEM.
Over a decade ago, I walked into Taylors’ and saw the amazing department that has just opened. Merchant Taylors’ DET were the hosts for a DATA conference I was leading for the Head of Department at that time. I ran a training session for DATA staff introducing Autodesk software and VEX Robotics education highlighting the ways in which it could be embedded in the DT & Computing curriculum to get more students engaged in DET. I had no idea then what it would grow into. Watching it develop over the years — students catching the bug for engineering, problem-solving, and building things that actually work — has been something really special to witness over time. Now I get to be part of it properly and take it to a new level.
What most excites you about your role, and what got you into it?
I didn’t come into teaching through a traditional route where I simply wanted to stand at the front of a classroom and deliver lessons. I used to work in Industry. I’ve always been fascinated by technology, engineering, design, problem-solving, and how people learn. What attracted me to teaching was the opportunity to inspire curiosity and unlock potential. I enjoy seeing the moment when a student goes from saying, “I can’t do this” to realising they can build a robot, write code, design a product, or solve a problem and then manufacture something they never thought possible. Teaching allows me to combine everything I enjoy: technology, creativity, innovation, leadership and mentoring.
What are you most proud of outside of your work at Taylors’?
My family, my beautiful wife and my four young children mean everything to me. I’m proud of their achievements and its exciting watching them grow and develop. They make me smile.
What did you study?
I studied a BA (Hons) in Industrial Design and Technology with Education at Loughborough University, followed by an MA in STEM Education at Kings College, London.
What is one thing you think everyone should try and why?
I think everyone should try building something from complete scratch at least once in their life. It could be a robot, an engine, a piece of software, a business, a website, a product, a community project or even a simple piece of furniture. What matters most is the process. When you build something from nothing, you learn resilience, problem-solving, creativity and perseverance. You also gain a much deeper appreciation for the people who create the products and technologies we often take for granted. Even if it doesn’t work first time, you learn a great deal about yourself. That’s why I encourage my own children and the students I work with to build, experiment and take risks. The confidence that comes from creating something yourself is hard to replicate any other way.
