Design & Technology

Design and Technology have remodelled the key stage 3 curriculum to ensure that all of the requirements of the new GCSE DT are included and the skills and knowledge that the students will need to succeed are built in right from the beginning of year 7. Progression has been carefully considered to ensure topics are covered in a logical order giving students the best opportunities to retain skills and knowledge.

In Year 7, students study through a variety of Design and making activities:

Textiles Lanterns: This 7 week module, based in the Textiles area, introduces pupils to a range of different fabrics and the properties of natural and synthetic fibres.  They gain inspiration from a different culture to create pattern repeats using CAD/CAM.  They learn sewing machine skills to produce a lantern.

Food and Nutrition: This 7 week module provides an introduction to the principals of nutrition and health. The pupils will become competent in a range of cooking techniques for example using utensils and electrical equipment; applying heat in a variety of ways, using an awareness of sensory attributes, knife skills and developing healthy products.  They will make healthy scones, soup, vegetable muffins and cous cous salad. They will also complete a scientific experiment.

Sounds good: This 7 week module will encourage pupils to analyse a topic, produce research and develop specifications.  Pupils will then develop a range of solutions using design techniques and CAD to produce a laser cut headphone wrap.

Mood lamp: This 7 week module provides an introduction to both Resistant Materials and Electronics, combining features from both to create a Mood lamp that has a rainbow LED feature controlled by a light dependent resistor.  Pupils will learn about the properties of materials, how to cut, file and finish Pine, laser engrave acrylic as well as how to populate and solder a circuit and health and safety.

Spike Prime Robotics: This 7 week module introduces students to Robotics. Through the assembly and programming of a Lego Spike Prime robot kits, students have the opportunity to investigate key Technology principles such as problem solving, motion, gears and levers. Students learn to adapt their robots to be able to complete tasks in a range of different physical environments through a variety of challenges.

In Year 8 students study through a variety of Design and making activities:

Textiles Pencil cases:  This 7 week module, based in the Textiles area, increases pupils knowledge of fabrics and their properties. They learn how to apply colour and pattern onto fabric by hand and computer techniques. They design and make a pencil case, applying colour and pattern, adding a zip, applique work and other decorative techniques.

Food and Nutrition: During this 7 week module pupils will learn about a healthy diet, become competent in a range of cooking techniques, how to combine ingredients and adapt their own recipes. They will cook savoury dishes, investigate the function of ingredients and design and make products of their own.

Docking station: During this 7 week module pupils will investigate a range of making skills in order to manufacture a mobile phone docking station. Students will study inclusive design and smart materials. Students will be trained to use a wide range of workshop machinery, and electronics manufacturing equipment in order to produce a fully functional product. Students will experience working with a range of materials and will learn about their working properties during this topic.

Mission to Mars:  This 7 week module incorporates a number of different drawing, CAD and designing elements from designing with a particular context in mind to analysing a topic and producing research that will allow them to develop a detailed specification. Pupils will then develop a range of solutions leading to an OnShape model for a Mars spaceship using smart and modern materials through, design, annotation and modelling techniques. Pupils are encouraged to be as self-directed as possible and draw on inspiration from new and future technologies when designing.

VEX IQ Robotics: This 7 week module focuses on robotics. Students have the opportunity to assemble, programme and control a number of VEX IQ clawbots. During the assembly of the clawbots students will get hands on experience at using gears, levers, sensors, mechanisms and pulleys. Students will learn about how to use gear ratios, how to program their robots to respond to 6 different types of sensor and how to develop their robot so it can successfully complete a range of challenges in the schools VEX IQ arena.

In Year 9 students study through a variety of Design and making activities:

Technical drawing: All students study this 3 week module that will give them the opportunity to learn a variety of technical drawing techniques from Isometric, Orthographic and Exploded drawings. This will enable them to communicate their design ideas for future projects.

Product design GENIE lighting: This 6 week module will teach the pupils how to design and make an electronic product to solve a real world problem for a client. Modelled closely on the new GCSE requirements, students will have the opportunity to carry out initial research, client interviews and product analysis tasks which will help them with the design, development and programming of a microcontroller and a casing to meet their clients needs. Students will learn the systems approach to PCB design, as well as a range on manufacturing techniques that are suitable for producing electronic housings such as Laser cutting.

Textiles Ipad cases: This 6 week module in the Textiles room involves students designing and making a cover to protect an ipad. During the 10 weeks pupils will have the opportunity to create designs based on Graffiti art, Pop Art, Vintage or Flower Power. Develop their skills with textile techniques such as sublimation printing, laser cutting, patchwork, applique, reverse applique, free hand embroidery and machine embroidery. Students will also learn about Smart fabrics including colour changing materials.

Food and Nutrition: During this 6 week module pupils will concentrate on investigating and making street food from around the world. Pupils will focus on investigating the foods available in different cultures, making a range of street foods and presenting them, experimenting with the functions of ingredients, working individually and in groups.

Teen Toy: This 6 week module focuses on Resistant materials, CAD and 3D Printing. Students have the opportunity to use a range of resistant materials to produce a kickboard (finger skateboard) and a range of figurine keyrings to ride on it. Students will use all 3 main resistant materials (woods, metals, plastics) and will use a wide variety of manufacturing techniques including 3D Printing, Pewter casting, workshop tools and hand tools. The project also incorporates advanced CAD in the form of OnShape to design the kickboard trucks and wheels and uses investigation into clients, drawing styles and past and present designers.

Industrial design: This 6 week module will teach the pupils how to design and prototype an industrial piece of machinery to help clean up our environment. Pupils will work with on OnShape to design and then 3D Print a scale model of their problem solving machine. Student submissions will be entered into a Lancashire wide competition run by BAE Systems and Create education. Students will gain a good working knowledge of local sustainability issues as well as different considerations of industrial design.

Students choose their GCSE course at the end of Year 9. The range of Design & Technology GCSE syllabuses available to pupils are:

GCSE Design & Technology (AQA)
GCSE Design & Technology with Textiles focus (Edexcel)
GCSE Food Preparation & Nutrition (AQA)
Further details on course content and specification can be found on their websites: 

http://www.edexcel.org.uk

www.aqa.org.uk

Course Content

Whichever Design & Technology course is chosen, students will be required to complete both a practical project and a terminal examination during Year 11. These are weighted as below for all of the Design & Technology subjects.

Non Examined Assessment (50%) + Examination (50%) = GCSE (100%)

Non Examined Assessment (NEA) Details

The Design & Technology NEA will consist of a single project that will be undertaken during Year 11. The student and the teacher will select this project from the list given by the examination board in June of Year 10. It will involve the production of a design folio and lead to the manufacture of a chosen project.

The Food preparation and Nutrition GCSE consists of 2 NEA tasks. Task 1 (15%) is a food investigation which involves a written report on a practical investigation and will assess students understanding of properties of ingredients etc. Task 2 (35%) is a food preparation assessment where students design and produce 3 dishes.

Examination Details

Students will start the preparation for the Design & Technology examinations at the beginning of Year 10. The paper is not tiered which allows all students full access to the whole range of grades 9-1. The examination papers will be completed during the summer term of Year 11.