Design & Technology

In Design and Technology pupils combine practical and technological skills with creative thinking to design and make products and systems that meet human needs.

“Tell me and I forget, show me and I may remember, let me do it and I learn”. Design and Technology stimulates pupil learning through using their minds and hands! In Design and Technology lessons teachers, with their pupils, plant the seed of design possibility through creativity.

Pupils work within stimulating contexts and learn to use current technologies whilst considering the impact of future technological developments. Through Design and Technology pupils develop confidence in using practical skills and become discriminating users of products. They learn to think creatively and innovatively to improve the quality of life and solve problems as individuals as well as part of a team.

Key Stage 3

The aims of Design and Technology in Key Stage 3 are to extend the skills and knowledge developed at Key Stage 2.


In Years 7, 8 and 9 pupils follow a rotation approach working within five specialist areas of Design and Technology; Food Technology, Graphic Products, Product Design, Systems and Control and Textiles Technology

Pupils follow an iterative design process and are given a choice of design briefs to promote pupil independence. Pupils are given opportunities to present their work to the class to promote greater ownership of their project. Failure is taught as a technical term rather than as a criticism or an opinion. Learning from failure improves designs. 

The modules undertaken in each specialist area introduce pupils to a range of materials, tools, processes and techniques used in Design Technology area. Each module has a specified assessment and focus within the design process.

 

Key Stage 4

The Design Technology GCSE options available for students to take are:- Art and Design – Fashion and Textiles, Art and Design – Three Dimensional Design, BTEC Level 2 First Extended Certificate in Art and Design and Food Preparation and Nutrition.

Art and Design – Fashion and Textiles AQA – This courseteaches pupils about the development of Textiles-based art and contemporary fashion. The course leads to an Art GCSE and follows the same pattern of projects and assessment as students will be familiar with from Key Stage 3 Art and Textiles. Example outcomes might include fashion garments, costumes, interior Textiles and Art Textiles installations.

Art and Design – Three Dimensional Design AQA - This course combines designing and making skills. Pupils are encouraged to study a broad range of influences from architecture to theatre design. This gives them a platform in which to be creative, imaginative and innovative, and to use a wide range of materials in which to experiment and develop ideas.

BTEC First Level 2 Extended Certificate in Art & Design Edexcel - This course explores Art and Design and has specialist units in design history, product design and graphic design. Pupils undertake nine units, seven are internally set and assessed design briefs and two are externally set examination board design briefs. Pupils explore the design process using advanced manufacturing techniques and materials like concrete.


Food Preparation and Nutrition Eduqas - This course equips pupils with the knowledge, understanding and skills required to cook and apply the principles of food science, nutrition and healthy eating. It encourages pupils to cook, enables them to make informed decisions about food and nutrition and allows them to acquire knowledge in order to be able to feed themselves and others affordably and nutritiously, now and later in life. 

 

Extra Curricular Activities in Design and Technology

In Design and Technology pupils are able to participate in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics activities, Rotary Young Chef Competition, Crest Awards in additional to catch up sessions available in each specialist area. After school Young Engineer and Young Entrepreneur sessions are available for all pupils.