Curriculum Statement - Design and Technology

“If you’re not prepared to be wrong, you’ll never come up with anything original.” – Ken Robinson

“Creativity is contagious, pass it on” – Albert Einstein

Powerful Knowledge in Design and Technology

Powerful knowledge is the realisation that most of the items or products we interact with on a daily basis are designed for a reason. Students should be made aware that design and invention provide solutions. Students will develop a wealth of high quality experiences within the design and technology sector. These will include an opportunity to learn and develop skills with the latest Industry standard equipment. Technology gives students the opportunity to step outside of their comfort zone, to take risks and problem solve. We encourage independent learning and give students strategies to become resilient through taking risks. Harnessing creativity to look for new innovative solutions to design based problems. Design and technology is the bridge between technology, art, science and business, it brings together creativity, innovations and enterprise in an applied way, which gives career opportunities for the future. Real world problems are used to develop the students understanding of the huge, life-changing role and impact a designer can have:

  • Bringing technology alive using the latest CAD and CAM equipment.
  • Learning how the technology Industry is changing with new and exciting materials and processes.
  • Developing an understanding about the latest technology advancements which are shaping the environment, raising awareness to ecological and sustainability issues.
  • Knowledge of important design role models, design movements and their origins from culture.
  • Encouraging students to have inquisitive minds, not to accept what is presented to them but to question why materials behave in the way they do. Understanding how their characteristics and origins can be manipulated and developed to create more useful and realistic outcomes. Having the ability to consider that alternative materials and power sources can be used to aid sustainability.
  • A good understanding of how environmental considerations can impact design decisions, positively and negatively to help inform the students to be conscientious consumers.
  • Looking at a wide range of resources to see how they have inspired design, taking note of the evolution of nature and how biomimicry has impacted the progress of design.
  • How consumers interact with products and their environment, ensuring ergonomics and anthropometrics enable products to be fit for purpose.

Design and technology gives students the opportunity to develop the iterative design process to provide solutions to given problems, developing the ability to argue, justify and present with confidence and clarity. Powerful- to discuss, experiment, evaluate, discuss, experiment as part of the iterative design process.

 

Curriculum Features

  • Year 7: Students develop their knowledge and skill over the transition period, ensuring that they get an excitement for the new subjects and develop their ability to become independent in each of the specialist Technology environments. Projects are designed to engage and give students a passion for the subject.
  • Year 8: Students have an opportunity to develop problem solving and practical skills, working with a range of different materials, working in different subjects and environments, they understand how to use many different ingredients and materials to create relevant products that meet their target markets requirements.
  • Year 9: Students are given an opportunity to specialise in their favourite technology option, they learn how to work to industry standard using new tools and machinery. Quality control and tolerances along with cultural application give this part of the technology journey depth and a love of learning. We have developed a curriculum that inspires students through a range of practical projects that give an insight into the role of a professional designer.

 

Co Curriculum Enrichment

We offer subject specific enrichment after school where students have the opportunity to work with our specialist staff and use the specialist equipment to develop their work and get subject specific support. We offer trips and visits relating to all areas of Technology, from young chefs to having designers in residence. Gallery visits, Degree Shows, places of employment, industry practice, and visiting specialist practitioners’ all help to inspire and motivate out students. We offer a multidisciplinary approach at the heart of the STEM club. Live projects are used as competitions of creativity within technology. Students are able to see how real designers work and take part in a live brief. Mentoring by our KS5 students helps formulate close bonds within peer groups, this support network is offered to GCSE students to ensure they make the most progress they can in their chosen design and technology specialism.

KS3

Design and technology subjects in KS3 are taught in rotations by subject specialists.

Students study resistant materials, food and nutrition and textiles. Graphical elements are fed into all three Subjects. This enables the students to have a broad and balanced curriculum that meets their passion for the subjects.

KS4

Students can pick from a suite of qualifications within the design & technology faculty.

 

Textiles

Students study the AQA specification.

The course develops students understanding and practical ability within textiles.

Further detail is available on the exam board website below
https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/art-and-design/gcse/art-and-design-8201-8206/subject-content/textile-design

 

Engineering

Students study the Pearson Btec specification.

Students develop a secure knowledge of the stages involved in planning and implementing an engineering project as well as the knowledge and skills involved in the investigation of solutions to engineering problems in response to a given brief.

Further detail is available on the exam board website below
https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/btec-nationals/engineering-2016.html

 

Food Preparation & Nutrition

Students study the AQA specification.

A theoretical understanding of the subject domain is established alongside students developing medium to complex skills in food preparation and cooking.

Further detail is available on the exam board website below
https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/food/gcse/food-preparation-and-nutrition-8585

 

Materials

Students study the AQA specification.

Students develop an understanding of the technical and innovative developments within technology as well as the use of a wide range of specialist tools and equipment.

 

Further detail is available on the exam board website below
https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/design-and-technology/gcse/design-and-technology-8552