Design and Technology is intrinsic in our lives and is something we often take for granted. The products that surround us and we use every day, have been meticulously designed to intuitively make even the most mundane tasks seem easy and comfortable, this doesn’t happen by accident. Drawing on skills and knowledge acquired in Maths, Science, Technology and Art helps students studying Design and Technology become innovative and enhance the world around them by creating solutions to real-world problems.
Ethos
In Design and Technology, students combine practical and technological skills with creative thinking to design and make products and systems that meet human needs. They learn to use current technologies and consider the impact of future technological developments. They learn to think creatively and intervene to improve the quality of life, solving problems as individuals and as members of a team. Working in stimulating contexts that provide a range of opportunities and draw on the local ethos, community and the wider world, students identify needs and opportunities.
They respond with ideas, products and systems, challenging expectations where appropriate. They combine practical and intellectual skills with an understanding of aesthetic, technical, cultural, health, social, emotional, economic, industrial and environmental issues. As they do so, they evaluate past and present design and technology and its uses and effects. Through Design and Technology, students develop confidence in using practical skills and become discriminating users of products. They apply their creative thinking and learn to innovate.
Page last updated 15 October 2021
Key Stage 3
Students in Years 7 and 8 follow a rotation system of 9 to 10 weeks in the 3 following disciplines.
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Systems and Control
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Product Design
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Cooking and Nutrition
Students are encouraged to think about their own and others' needs, wants, and values within a range of contexts to help them understand and appreciate the world around them. They cover the following themes and products:
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Fashion and Culture
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Home and leisure
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Natural Environment
Year 7
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Membrane Switch (Systems and Control)
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CAM Toy (Product Design)
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Keyring and blister pack.
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In cooking and Nutrition, they make a White sauce, Chicken curry, Pizza, Small Cakes.
Subject Information - Design and Technology Year 7
Year 8
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Sustainability
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Health and Wellbeing
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Construction
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Engineering and Manufacturing.
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Dark Activated Night Light (Systems and Control)
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Handy Helper
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Wooden Photo Frame(Product Design)
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In cooking and nutrition they make; Crumble, Spaghetti Bolognese, Scones, Chicken Pie.
Subject Information - Design and Technology Year 8
Year 9
Are in a ‘transition’ into GCSE. They have units of 9 to 10 weeks, but won’t rotate as they have done previously, they will explore different contextual challenges and design briefs that will result in a ‘design’ and ‘make’ prototype product.
Examples of products that students will be making this year:
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Blister Packaging and prototyping
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Audio Amplifier prototype
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Gravity Die Casting Pewter
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Biomimicry inspired storage organiser and more
Subject Information - Design and Technology Year 9
Key Stage 4
Several coursework challenges will be undertaken throughout
Year 10
Students are able to experiment with materials and processes to design and make products whilst developing skills and confidence. The theory content of the course will be woven into the practical applications where possible to help with a deeper level of understanding.
Year 11
Students are able to take responsibility in choosing from three design contexts provided by the exam board to focus on their final Non-Exam Assessment project. Evidence required for this is a design folder and a practical project, whilst the theory content will help students prepare for 2 mock exams and the final end-of-year exam in the summer.
Subject Information - Design and Technology Years 10 to 11
Key Stage 5
- The A-Level Product Design course encourages students to take a broad view of technology and design to develop their capacity to design and make products and to appreciate the complex relations between design, materials, manufacture and marketing.
- It offers students an opportunity to communicate their thinking clearly and represent their ideas graphically as well as gain personal satisfaction and a positive experience from working with a variety of materials.
- The practical problem-solving processes in this course will encourage independent learning, creativity and innovation.
Subject Information - Key Stage 5
Page last updated 11 November 2021
