Design & Technology

About Design and Technology

The All Hallows Design & Technology department consists of 7 specialist teachers and 2 specialist technicians who have a love & passion for Technology.

Our goal has always been, and will continue to be, to pass on this passion and love for our subjects to our students. We want to inspire future generations of Engineers, Fashion Designers, Chefs, Mechanics, Product designers, Architects. We believe that Design & Technology at its best is about practical problem solving and innovation. Both of which play a huge part in improving human existence and making the world a better place for everyone!

We are enthusiastic about our subjects and we love it when we see students who share that passion and enthusiasm. We want to teach students in an engaging and practical way. We believe that the best innovators in any field have been given the opportunity, experience and tools, from an early age, to succeed, and that is what we aim to do for our students.

Our Teaching & Learning is centred around a combination of encouraging our students to think innovatively and equipping them with the skills they need to evaluate the potential of their innovations. We want them to have the opportunity to try out the widest range of subjects, topics and tasks that we can facilitate. We want to open doors for them to a world of endless Technological opportunity.

The core experience in Design and Technology is essentially about providing opportunities for students to develop their capability, through combining their designing and making skills with knowledge and understanding in order to create quality products. As a school we place an emphasis on “quality” products as there is great benefit in students experiencing success and seeing and handling products that are well made. In addition the school sees the preparation of young people for citizenship in a technological society as a central activity within the subject.

The knowledge used in Design and Technology is critical to the sound development of products. This knowledge and understanding will be taught specifically within Design & Technology, but will also be drawn from other curriculum areas like science, mathematics, art and design, business education (extra – curricular clubs) ICT & Computing.  Design & Technology also contributes to these subjects and some other curriculum areas.

Design and Technology provides excellent opportunities for students to apply judgements of an aesthetic, moral, social, and technical nature in their designing and to existing products and their applications.

Students will use a range of communication skills, including verbal, graphical and modelling skills, to help their thinking and ability to take action in the process of designing. Design & Technology provides excellent opportunities for individual work and teamwork.

The subject has a crucial role in developing industrial partnerships where work in school can have a realistic focus by active involvement of industry in project work or by illustrating industrial processes or techniques.

Design and Technology involves a distinctive creative process that combines the intellectual with practical skills through purposeful practical activities. The creative process in which students are engaged is iterative, with the crucial parts being the user or customer of the product and the quality of the product itself.

The nature of Design and Technology at All Hallows is such that it should provide opportunities for students to engage in activities that are challenging, relevant and motivating. Giving students enjoyment, satisfaction and a sense of purpose, and enabling them to feel they can play a constructive role in a technological society. All Design and Technological activities are a learning experience whereby the students’ repertoire of knowledge, skills and understanding is extended and applied in increasingly more diverse and sophisticated ways.

Staffing

Within Design and Technology we have specialist teachers to deliver the full curriculum to all students at both Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4. These are:

• Mr Jousiffe (Head of Technology)
• Mr Thomas (Assistant Headteacher)
• Mrs Pascucci – (Coordinator of Design & Technology)
• Mr Carr – Teacher of Computing and Design & Technology
• Mrs Caw – Teacher of Food, Design & Technology and Computing
• Miss Chambers – Teacher of Art and Design & Technology
• Mrs Midgley – Teacher of Computing and Design & Technology
• Mrs Rostron – Teacher of Computing and Design & Technology
• Miss N Branson – Design & Technology Technician

Accommodation

We have a purpose built department with 5 specialist subject rooms and one central ICT/CADCAM (computer aided design, computer aided manufacture) area. The department is equipped with 40+ computers that operate specialist design software such as 2D Design, Circuit Wizard, Google Sketchup, Speedstep and Adobe Photoshop.

Key Stage 3 Curriculum

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:

Technology in society: This 2 week module introduces the pupils to Design Technology and how important it is to design with the environment in mind.  The concept of the Six R principles and ‘product life cycle.’  Pupils use an old plastic bottle and remake it into a useful product.

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 principles 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, flying leads and health and safety.

MicroBit Robots: This 7 week module introduces students to Robotics. Through the assembly and programming of a BBC Microbit controlled robot, students have the opportunity to investigate key Technology principles such as forces, motion, gears, levers, energy, the environment and sustainability. 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:

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 such as making shortcrust pastry, how to combine ingredients and adapt recipes to suit the needs of themselves or others. They will cook predominantly savoury dishes, investigate the function of ingredients using scientific principles and complete a science investigation.

Phone holder: 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 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 for a Mars Robot 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 Robots: This 7 week module focuses on robotics. Students have the opportunity to assemble, program 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.

Year 9 students select 3 of the following 5 design and make activities to study, giving them the opportunity to specialise in areas of specific interest to them:

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 lighting: This 10 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.

Ipad cases: This 10 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 10 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.

Design & Make: This 10 week module focuses on Resistant materials. Students have the opportunity to use a range of resistant materials to produce a passive speaker and a range of jewellery/keyrings. Students will use all 3 main resistant materials (woods, metals, plastics) and will use a wide variety of manufacturing techniques including Laser cutting, Pewter casting, workshop tools and hand tools. The project also incorporates CAD use and investigation into past and present designers.

Architecture: This 10 week module will teach the pupils how to design and prototype a piece of architecture. Pupils will develop their knowledge and application of iterative design and will learn about a selection of 21st century iconic designers. Pupils will work with a variety of CAD packages including 2D Design, Google Sketchup and OnShape. Students will gain a good working knowledge of compliant materials and knowledge of 3D printing as well as a selection of decoration and quick assembly techniques.

Key Stage 4 Curriculum

Students choose their GCSE course at the end of Year 9. The range of Design & Technology GCSE syllabuses available to pupils during 2019/20 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.

Extra Curricular Activities and Visits

The department organises and runs several educational visits. We have a Year 8 residential retreat to Conwy, Wales which through activities such as archery, high/low ropes course, hill walking, gorge walking, canoeing, MTB and climbing, develops students problem solving skills, team working and leadership skills amongst others. We also take students on an annual visit to The Big Bang Fair in Birmingham as well as local trips to various competitions such as FutureChef, Faraday challenge, Rotary Challenge and Tomorrows Engineers EEP Robotics.

Design and Technology co-ordinate and run an extremely popular STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) club which is open to all year groups and gives students a huge range of amazing opportunities to participate in regional and national competitions. Within the last year, the STEM club has won several of these competitions such as the regional Rotary Club competition and the national IET Faraday competition. They were also finalists at the AluPro and EEP Robotics competions, winning an award for presentation at the latter. We have also had a regional FutureChef competitor this year. STEM club runs on Tuesdays after school, is co-ordinated by Mrs Caw and involves a range of Technology, Maths and Science staff.