Design Technology
Key Stage 3
Aims
Our Design & Technology curriculum explores a wide range of research, designing, planning, making and evaluating tasks. These are experienced across different curriculum subject areas that include resistant materials, electronic systems, graphic communication, textiles and food.
Students will experience the specialist tools and equipment associated with each subject area and become increasingly confident and experienced at using them to produce high quality outcomes.
What will students learn?
Please see the curriculum overview document at the bottom of this section.
How will students be taught?
Students will be taught through individual and small group work to explore subject knowledge and time will be given to explore and apply their new learning. Practical skills will be built up over time and reinforced through increasing the complexity of tasks. Practical fine motor skills are developed, and skill levels are improved with practice and experience gained from our projects. Students will build up their long-term memory through quizzing and knowledge testing via questioning. Practical demonstrations will be used to provide instruction and to reflect upon key skills and knowledge. Evaluation of practical work and reflection will be used to reinforce learning and offer suggestions for future improvement.
How will students be assessed?
Students will be assessed by conducting research that can be used in the design and planning sections of their project work. Hand drawing and computer design skills will be used to assess student’s designing abilities. Practical pieces of work will be assessed in order to provide feedback and assessment on practical skills and knowledge. Written evaluations will be used to assess a student’s ability to reflect upon their work and suggest improvements that could be made in the future.
Food Technology information
Key Stage 4
Electronic & Mechanical Systems
What will students learn?
This qualification focusses on the design process and understanding how to develop products to successful outcomes. It develops students’ drawing and design skills, furthers their knowledge of technical products and will be biassed towards electronic & mechanical devices.
How will students be taught?
The subject content is presented under two headings: technical principles & designing and making principles. Within each area, the content is further divided into core knowledge & understanding, and in-depth knowledge & understanding. In this case, we cover the core knowledge content and then specialise in the area of electronic systems, programmable components and mechanical devices.
Students will be taught through a series of projects which include elements of practical skills, theoretical knowledge and design skills for working with electronic systems. Homework tasks, videos, practical demonstrations and computer aided design software will be used as key learning tools.
How will students be assessed?
This qualification consists of two components:
Component 1: Design and Technology in the 21st Century - written examination (2 hours)
A mix of short answers, structured and extended writing questions assessing candidates’ knowledge and understanding of technical principles, designing and making principles and their ability to analyse and evaluate design decisions.
Component 2: Design and Make Task (35 hours)
A sustained design and make task, based on a contextual challenge set by the exam board, assessing candidates’ ability to identify, investigate and outline design possibilities; simulate, design, develop and make circuit prototypes; analyse and evaluate design decisions and the practical outcome.
Examination board & course type
AQA – GCSE Design & Technology (8552)
What can studying this subject lead to?
A GCSE in Design & Technology is required for entry into A level Graphics and A level Product Design at grade 6. Many students that have studied a similar route have gone on to careers in aerospace, marine & power engineering, architecture, construction & product designing.
Many important life skills such as time management, planning and organisational skills are key to the designing and making process.
As well as a GCSE level qualification, students will also leave the course with a portfolio of design evidence and a practical piece of work that can be shown to future employers and educational institutes to help demonstrate their designing and practical skills and potential for the future.
Revision Advice
A subject specific guide featuring key content, recommended resources and the specifications we cover in that particular subject can be downloaded below:
Timber and Metals
What will students learn?
This qualification focuses on the design process and understanding how to develop products to successful outcomes. It develops students’ drawing and design skills, furthers their knowledge of technical products and will be biased towards natural and manufactured timbers. Approximately 70% of the course will be delivery of theory. The remaining 30% will involve students taking part in practical activities that will enhance their understanding of the course content.
How will students be taught?
The subject content is presented under two headings: technical principles & designing and making principles. Within each area, the content is further divided into core knowledge & understanding and in-depth knowledge & understanding. In this case we cover the core knowledge content and then specialise in the area of natural and manufactured timber.
Students will be taught through a series of projects which include elements of practical skills, theoretical knowledge and design skills for working with timber. Homework tasks, videos, practical demonstrations and computer aided design software will be used as key learning tools.
How will students be assessed?
Component 1: Design and Technology in the 21st Century - written examination, 2 hours
A mix of short answers, structured and extended writing questions assessing candidates’ knowledge and understanding of technical principles, designing and making principles and their ability to analyse and evaluate design decisions.
Component 2: Design and Make - task of 35 Hours
A sustained design and make task, based on a contextual challenge set by the exam board, assessing candidates’ ability to identify, investigate and outline design possibilities. It requires students to design and make prototypes, analyse and evaluate design decisions.
What can studying this subject lead to?
A GCSE in Design & Technology is required for entry into A level Graphic Design and A level Product Design at grade 6. Many students that have studied a similar route have gone on to careers in aerospace, marine & power engineering, architecture, construction & product designing. Many important life skills such as time management, planning and organisational skills are key to the designing and making process.
As well as a GCSE qualification, students will also leave the course with a portfolio of design evidence and a practical piece of work that can be shown to future employers and educational institutes to help demonstrate their designing, practical skills and potential for the future.
Examination board & course type
EDUQAS – GCSE Design & Technology (C600QS)
Revision advice
A subject specific guide featuring key content, recommended resources and the specifications we cover in that particular subject can be downloaded below:
Teacher to contact for further information
Mr J Jenner