Design Technology

The department has six spacious and well equipped teaching areas. Students can work with a wide range of materials such as wood, metal, plastics, food, textiles, graphics and control technology. All areas are supported with ICT facilities allowing students to use computer aided design (CAD) and computer aided manufacturing (CAM).

We aim to:

Teach students to use the powerful process of designing, in which new ideas are conceived and taken from the mind’s eye into the made world.
Introduce them to the use and application of a wide range of modern technologies
Encourage, through designing and making so students can think and intervene creatively to improve quality of life.
Stimulate students to become autonomous and creative problem- solvers, as individuals and members of a team.
Ensure that through design and technology students become innovative and enterprising citizens and learn to become discriminating and informed consumers.
Teach students to critique, evaluate and test their ideas and products and the work of others
Ensure that students understand and apply the principles of nutrition and learn how to cook.

Years 7-9

We follow the National Curriculum in years 7-9.

Students are taught in mixed ability groups throughout. Resources that are useful in supporting study include:

Skills in Textiles by Rose Sinclair, Heinemann publications ISBN:9780435421144
Design and Technology: Graphic Products Nelson Thornes
Food Technology Foundations Eileen Chapman Collins ISBN - 13: 9780003294910
KS3 Skills in Resistant Materials Peter Gale Heinemann publications.
www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize offers useful practice and information.

All areas encompass research and design development and manufacture and evaluation.

Year 7	Topics include: Resistant Materials – Automata. Focus on mechanisms and movement. Properties and working characteristics of wood. Health and safety and woodworking machinery and tools. Working in a team. Textiles – Juggling Bags. Focus on Health and safety and correct use of hand and machine sewing. Dying and printing colour application. Product Design – Biomimicry Shelter. Focus on structures and development of an accurate scaled architectural model for a school shelter through the process of iterative design and development and modelling in Computer Aided Design. Food – Basic Cooking Skills. Focus on familiarising pupils on school kitchen health and safety and basic techniques to make nutritious meals.
Year 8	Topics include: Resistant Materials – Sustainable Holder. Focus on environmental and moral issues in design, health and safety and metal working machinery and tools. Textiles – Culture Cushion. Focus on investigating materials and advanced surface application with a cultural influence using industrial techniques and methods, Product Design – Memphis Light. Focus on plastics. Health and safety and heat related machinery for manipulating and forming. Simple electronic circuit and soldering. Food – Staple Foods. Focus on preparing wholesome family meals and developing skills to include a balanced diet and nutritional healthy knowledge.
Year 9	Topics include: Reinforcement of Year 7 and Year 8 skills. Design theory and individuality is encouraged in Year 9. Resistant Materials – Plastic Metal. Focus on developing use of metals in conjunction with plastics through industrial finishes and processes incorporating CAD and laser cutting. Textiles – LEDC (Designing and making for a Less Economically Developed Country) Designing and manufacturing clothing using recycled materials for children around the world, predominantly Africa. Product Design – Eco Speaker. Focus on electronics and recognition of components and constructing circuits. Development of CAD and graphic skills to develop a 3D cardboard housing. Food – Advanced cooking skills. Focus on pastry techniques and producing intricate solutions.

GCSE Technology

Subjects available as GCSE options are Resistant Materials, Textiles and Food Preparation and Nutrition.

Students are able to opt for more than one Technology subject if they wish, although they must bear in mind that managing coursework deadlines in more than one technology subject will be very challenging.

Qualification	GCSE Resistant Materials
Board	AQA
Syllabus number	4562
Website link	www.aqa.org.uk
Assessment details	60% coursework, controlled assessment 40% terminal exam
Recommended coursebook	AQA GCSE Resistant Materials Ian Fawcett/Roger Smith Nelson Thornes ISBN 070-1-4085-073-0
Recommended revision guides	AQA GCSE Resistant Materials CPG books ISBN 9781847623539

Qualification	GCSE Design Technology: Textiles
Board	AQA
Syllabus number	4570
Website link	www.aqa.org.uk
Assessment details	60% coursework, controlled assessment 40% exam
Recommended revision guides	AQA GCSE Design and Technology Textiles Revision Guide CPG ISBN 978-1847623515

The coursework element of the AQA GCSE is measured against 5 Criterion:

Investigation and design content
Development of design proposals
Making/manufacturing
Testing and evaluation
Communication, including spelling and grammar

Qualification	GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition
Board	WJEC/Eduqas
Syllabus number	601/8093/6
Website link	http://www.eduqas.co.uk
Assessment details	50% coursework, controlled assessment: Component 1: Principles of Food Preparation and Nutrition Component 2: Food preparation and Nutrition in Action Assessment 1: The Food Investigation Assessment Assessment 2: The Food Preparation Assessment 50% exam
Recommended coursebook and revision guide	Food Preparation and Nutrition Publisher: Hodder Education (29 April 2016 Language: English ISBN-10: 1471867501 ISBN-13: 978-1471867507

Year 11 Catering

This qualification has been reformed and the current year 11 will be the last to sit in June 2017.

Qualification	GCSE Catering
Board	WJEC
Syllabus number	4730
Website link	www.wjec.co.uk
Assessment details	60% coursework, controlled assessment 40% exam
Coursework details	In Year 10: Unit 1a 20%Three hour practical and supporting work In Year 11: Unit 1b 40%Three hour practical and supporting work
Recommended coursebook	Hospitality and Catering for GCSE Judy Gardiner/ Jacqui Housley Hodder Education ISBN 978-1-4441-5389-7
Recommended revision guides	WJEC Hospitality and Catering: My study notes Judy Gardiner Hodder Education or WJEC Catering CPG books ISBN: 9781847629883

Support

At least one of Technology rooms is open every lunchtime and every night after school for GCSE students who need to use the facilities to extend their work or need additional support. Some students are directed to attend these sessions as an early intervention strategy to prevent them from falling behind. The sessions are supervised but permission to attend is reserved for those who use lesson time to good effect.