Academic Departments

Design & Technology

Pupils learning in the Design & Technology department will learn aspects of design from branding and product development and will develop safe working skills in a practical environment.

Key aims of the department are;

1. To make the pupils feel safe and confident in the workshop through practical experience.
2. To develop skills in using traditional and computer aided manufacturing equipment.
3. To be creative in the production of functional objects.
4. To encourage pupils to consider the objects around them in more detail.

Curriculum

KS3      

In Years 7, 8 and 9 pupils are taught Design and Technology in a carousel arrangement with Home Economics and Textiles.  Each student will spend approximately 12 weeks in each subject area in each year of the Key Stage.

Year 7     

Pupils begin by developing basic safe working skills while designing and making a simple wooden toy.  They also cover some basic materials and design based theory and risk-assess some of the tasks they carry out.  They use traditional hand and machine tools.

Year 8    

The concept of industrial manufacture is introduced in Year 8 as pupils use the computer aided facilities and consider the role of ICT in industrial manufacture.  Pupils also continue to build their hand crafting skills to design and make several small items using thermoplastic materials alongside use of the CAM equipment.  

Year 9    

The more complex issue of branding is considered in Year 9 as students design their own logo and use it to brand simple products to promote their own brand image.  New making and finishing skills continue to be introduced as well as the use of more complex computer aided equipment.

GCSE    

The current GCSE course being studied is AQA Product Design.  The two year course continues to develop the pupils’ skills and awareness of designing and making through longer design and make projects.  In some cases these are devised specifically to support preparation for a written exam which contributes 40% towards the GCSE award.   The remaining 60% of the award comes from the pupil’s individual Controlled Assessment Task.

A Level    

The current A level course is also AQA Product Design (3-D Design).  The course builds on the knowledge and skills gained in previous key stages to develop understanding of product design and manufacture in its industrial and historical contexts.  The course assessment is through written examination and coursework modules in each of the two years.  Modules each contribute 50% of the award.

Rooms and Resources    

The purpose built Design and Technology workshop was opened in 2008 and is very well equipped with traditional and computer aided equipment.  The room is also equipped with PC stations and an interactive white board to aid teaching.

Fieldwork/Extra Curricular/Educational Visits

Outside speakers and industrial visits are used to support the teaching of GCSE and A level courses.  Sites visited recently include, Bentley Motors, TetraPak and Tags Ltd.  The school has a registered Young Engineers Club which meets weekly and is an Arkwright scholarship affiliated School, entering Year 11 students interested in Engineering annually for this prestigious award.