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Design Technology
In the Design and Technology Department, we build on the skills and knowledge students have already learnt at primary school through a series of projects. Students rotate and specialise in different areas of design, being introduced to sophisticated resources and new manufacturing equipment in dedicated teaching environments with specialist teachers.
As students’ progress through Key Stage 3 Design and Technology, they are given the opportunity to focus on specific aspects of the subject such as product design, food preparation and nutrition, engineering, systems and control, electronics, textiles and graphics. At its core is creativity and imagination. Our students learn to design and make products that solve genuine, relevant problems within different contexts whilst considering their own and others’ needs, wants and values. To do this effectively, our students acquire a broad range of subject knowledge and draw on additional disciplines such as mathematics, science, engineering, computing and art.
The Technology Department offers many opportunities outside of the classroom to further develop skills by attending Cooking Club, STEM Club, Sewing Bee, Lego Club and most recently our ‘Plastic Free School’ group. Our doors are always open to students who wish to finish their practical work or have an independent project in mind. With design all around us, Design and Technology gives students the skills and abilities to engage positively with the designed and made world and to harness the benefits of technology.
KS3
KS3 Overview
Pupils are on a termly rotation, in class sizes of 21. Year 7’s will have 4 lessons of DT a fortnight. Pupils are set the option of either 3 short task home works over the term, or one extended project over the term. Home works are expected to be creative and well presented. Pupils should expect to spend around one hour a fortnight on DT home work.
Expected Equipment
HB pencil, blue pen, red pen, purple pen, black pen, ruler, rubber, protractor, sharpener, compass, colouring pencils, calculator, scissors.
Resources for learning
We use a website called ‘TECHNOLOGY STUDENT’ & ‘MR DT’. Pupils also have access to 2D Design on the CSGS cloud.
Extracurricular enrichment
- A KS3 Food club is run every fortnight in T4
- A Lego Club Tuesday and Wednesday in T1
- A KS3 sewing bee is run weekly after school.
Programme of Study
YEAR 7 – students are on a carousel of 3 subjects this year, each subject will last one full term. They will rotate through textiles, food and product design.
In textiles they will design and making an ugly doll, focusing on the theme of sustainability, this is supported by focused homework tasks including producing a fact file on different sustainable fibres and fabrics.
In food students are following ‘The eat well guide’. Pupils should expect to cook every week and are required to bring their weighed ingredients in to cook. The Ingredient list/recipe is are published on teams fortnightly.
YEAR 8 - students are on a carousel of 3 subjects this year, each rotation will last one full term. They will rotate through textiles, food and product design.
In textiles, they design and make either a tote or drawstring bag. They will design and apply an applique logo to their bag whilst utilising embroidery techniques, before learning how to use the sewing machine to construct their bags.
In food technology they study nutrition, and they design and make a pizza. Pupils should expect to cook every week and are required to bring their weighed ingredients in to cook. The Ingredient list/recipe is are published on teams fortnightly.
In Product design they design and make a maze game using the laser cutter this developing their ICT and software skills, they also vacuum form and package this game, learning about ergonomics and anthropometrics.
YEAR 9 - students are on a carousel of 4 subjects this year, each rotation is for 7 weeks, and students will spend their last 10 weeks in a rotation of their choice*. They will rotate through textiles, product and food.
In textiles students will design and make a soft furnishing product. They will carry out research based homework tasks to understand their client’s needs before making a suitable product using a variety of colour application techniques like tie-dye, batik and stencilling.
In product design students will make a finger jointed box and design an ethnic pattern to be lasered onto the box lid.
In food, students will undergo a street food project and design and research their own dishes based on their chosen country. Pupils should expect to cook every week and are required to bring their weighed ingredients in to cook. The Ingredient list/recipe is are published on teams fortnightly.
KS4
KS4 Overview
Curriculum Information
Group sizes at GCSE vary, but rarely exceed 20 students. Pupils should expect to spend one hour a week on DT, but this can easily reach 2 hours if the pupil is particularly dedicated to the presentation of their work. Home works for GCSE DT students will vary from investigation, to analysis, to design development and even modelling.
In year 11 the NEA is well underway and pupils should expect to be spending between 2 and 4 hours a week on their coursework and/or in the workshop/food room working on their practical outcome.
Expected Equipment
HB pencil, blue pen, red pen, purple pen, black pen, ruler, rubber, protractor, sharpener, compass, colouring pencils, calculator, scissors. A4 / A3 sketchbook, folder for theory notes
Resources for learning
We work primarily from the AQA GCSE 9-1 Design and Technology textbook. We also use the specialism books – textiles and paper and boards and timber, metal and polymer based materials. Pupils are expected to be competent using sketch up – free online 3D software.
Extracurricular enrichment
YEAR 10 –Pupils have dedicated making sessions in T1 every Monday 3:00-5:00pm and every lunchtime Monday to Thursday.
We run an annual trip to support the Product Design course.
YEAR 11 –Pupils have dedicated making sessions in T1 every Monday 3:00-5:00pm and every lunchtime Monday to Thursday.
We run an annual trip to support the Product Design course.
Students wishing to continue studying Product Design A level have the opportunity to apply for an Arkwright Scholarship with the application process fully guided by the department.
Year 10 Programme of Study
YEAR 10 Product Design -Students who have chosen to study Product design specialising in either textiles or resistant materials. They are introduced to core theory and complete several mini projects all building skill in their chosen areas. Theory lessons will run alongside mini projects and students will be developing design skills which will be utilised in their NEA folder. The NEA will start in June of their year 10 course and pupils will be completing a 20 A3 page folder based on a context delivered by the exam board.
YEAR 10 Food and Nutrition- Students who have chosen to study food and nutrition will be introduced to core theory and make a range of dishes to gain experience in different skills and techniques ranging from medium to high level skills through formal theory and practical lessons.
Year 11 Programme of Study
YEAR 11 – students will be continuing with NEA throughout year 11 and into the February term. Upon completion of the NEA (usually a date in March) students will then continue with exam practice and revision of subject content.
YEAR 11 – The NEA will start in September which is split into two parts.
Assessment 1: The Food investigation assessment and Assessment 2: The food preparation assessment These assessments will be based on a choice of tasks released by the exam board.
KS5 Product Design
KS5 Overview
In year 12 pupils will be producing their mini assessment projects up until the Easter of year 12. They should expect to be matching the amount of lesson time they have in their own time. 4-5 hours a week.
In year 13 the NEA is well underway and pupils should expect to be spending between 4 and 6 hours a week on their course work and or in the workshop/food room working on their practical outcome.
Expected Equipment
- HB pencil
- blue pen, red pen, purple pen, black pen,
- rubber
- protractor
- sharpener
- compass
- colouring pencils
- calculator
- scissors.
- A3 clear carry case
- A4 / A3 sketch book, folder for theory notes
Resources for learning
We encourage all pupils to purchase the AQA A Level Product Design textbook. All 4 mini projects have a Scheme of work on the Z drive accessible by students at home and in school. There is an NEA mark scheme breakdown also on the Z drive available to students to use as a guide with their folder work.
Extracurricular enrichment
Pupils have dedicated making sessions in T1 every Monday to Thursday from 7:15-8 am and from 1:20-1:50 pm every Monday to Thursday, from September through to April. The workshop is made available to students once a week from 3-4pm. This day changes annually. We run a trip to the New Designers exhibition in London in the June of year 12, this trip is essential for the coursework research required for the NEA.
Year 12 Programme of Study
Students will be producing their mini assessment projects up until February Half Term of year 12. They should expect to be matching the amount of lesson time they have in their own time. 4-5 hours a week.
Year 13 Programme of Study
The NEA continues this year and the deadline will be for completion of the NEA around March (date to be confirmed) pupils will then be working on their exam practice and revision of subject content
